Testament of Youth [DVD] [2014] [2015]

This is a story of the 1914 - 1918 world war. Undoubtedly, this is the best movie ever made of warfare. Ghastly scenes of dead soldiers and wounded infantry men appear amongst wet and muddy trenches. Soldiers lying on the ground in the rain as they wait for urgent help from dedicated nurses.Lots of screaming from brave men in terrible pain. Yes, you see men without legs and arms. Surgery without drugs. What determination the heroine achieves as she tends the sick and wounded on the battlefields of France.This is also a love story better than ‘Gone With The Wind.’ This is a story from a best selling novel that depicts the horror that all warfare creates. No war is worth this mass killing of young men, the flower of nations. Far better to negotiate forever!When politicians and leaders of all nations shout for troops on the ground. Say No!No more warfare.If you like realism this movie is for you.

Alicia vikander s 'made up, affected English accent' really ruins the movie! Such a pity! Surely we have enough British actresses that could have played this role perfectly. This movie could have been great but utterly ruined because of mediocre acting from Vikander and a really annoying 'put on ' English accent.Vikander appears to copy Keira Knightley in her mannerisms & acting but sadly comes across as a mediocre copy in this film.All through the movie one is very conscious of this 'very put on accent' by a swedish actress, that it completely takes away from the movie. I don't have anything against Vikander and I have seen other movies where she suited the role but this was one role that should have been played by a British actress or by an actress like Renee zellweger who at least has the talent to nail British accents perfectly.Really bad acting! Utterly ridiculous! Ruined !

This film started off really well and I think Alicia Vikander is a really good actress. It is a true story adapted from a 1933 memoir by Vera Brittain, played by Vikander.The supporting actors Kit Harrington and Taron Egerton are great, and the period of just before and during the first world war is done well. I felt it went on a bit too long and slightly over did the misery.Overall though it was a good movie, and tells an important story about war and the human cost.

A true story that brings the horrors of war sharply into focus - in this case WWI. A deeply moving film. It's hard to think how anyone copes after Vera's experiences - the film is a tribute to not only all those who lost their lives in WWI but also all the other wars and the misery and suffering they leave in their respective wakes. The film is beautifully crafted with a great cast. Highly recommended.

What can one say about such a fantastic piece of film making. The acting is sublime, not one weak character, or duff performance. Vera Britton's book captures the loss of a whole generation of such promise. As Sassoon said; 'If an question why we died, tell them because our fathers lied.' Its our duty to remember this great generation and marvel at what they gave up to serve there country. And this film is a wonderful testament to there sacrifice.

I enjoyed this as a good representation of the anguish of the period. Some of the symbolism was a bit naff, like the swimming in the pond. Miss Vikander looked like she was on the verge of panic or tears throughout the film, but did a good job of it (I expect Helena Bonham Carter was too old). Some of the male leads were not very good being far too old, but Kit Harrington was excellent. Sets and situations were quite good except for everything being so clean, but all modern representations of this period suffer from that. Britain's towns and cities, up to about the 60s were filthy with soot and grime. It might have been better to film it in black and white, but who would dare do that these days for effect? All the filming on the moors seemed to have been done in winter which rather spoilt the effect too.

I read the book (all her books) several years ago and Testament of Youth Vera Brittains' first book was briliant and one that will stay with me for ever. However, the film version I found okay. What I think lets it down is the actress who played Vera Brittain Alicia Vikander. I thought she was very lame quite unlike the Vera Brittain in the book. The shock and reminder of the first world war was well portrayed. It was a war that wiped out a generation of pure talent. It is a book I shall never forget it is for this reason that I found the film lacking and simply because I felt the wrong actress played Vera. She doesn't come across with any conviction regarding anything. If anything she comes across as a soppy lame girl which was not the case in real life. Vera Brittain was a passionate woman with strong views regarding the future of women. My suggestion would be to read the book first.

A quite moving and well photographed version of a classic wartime memoir by one of Britain’s leading pacifists. However strong performances can’t overcome a problem at the heart of the production that ultimately renders it somewhat flawed and lacking in that extra something that characterises truly great feature films. It’s worth watching but rather run-of-the-mill.