‘Achingly sad’ war film with ‘transcendent performances’ on BBC tonight
The film traces the life of famous British poet and decorated World War I combat veteran, Siegfried Sassoon, and it’s all set to air at 11pm tonight on BBC2.
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The film boasts a near-perfect review rating(Image: Laurence Cendrowicz)
Written and helmed by a filmmaker who was considered to be one of the greatest British directors of his time, the 2021 film was Terence Davies’ swan song.
The biographical romantic drama, Benediction, features Jack Lowden and Peter Capaldi in the lead roles as war poet Siegfried Sassoon, supported by Simon Russell Beale, Kate Phillips, Gemma Jones, Jeremy Irvine, and Ben Daniels, rounding out a stellar ensemble cast.
Now, fans of war films and Terence Davies can rejoice as Benediction will air on BBC2 at 11pm tonight, November 7.
The film traces the life of Siegfried Sassoon, a British poet and decorated World War I combat veteran who was committed to a psychiatric facility for his outspoken anti-war stance. This biopic explores his romantic relationships with several men during the 1920s, his marriage and fatherhood, as well as his eventual conversion to Catholicism.
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Benediction is airing on television tonight(Image: Publicity Picture)
In September 2021, Benediction had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival as a Special Presentation. With a smashing, near-perfect 92 per cent critics approval rating on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, the biopic received glowing reviews from critics.
One critic said of Davies’ film: “Benediction is achingly sad but poignant – like all great art it elicits empathy for the subject and the many, many young men who were lost due to wars out of their control; whether those be on a battlefield or in their personal lives.”
While another reviewer said: “Ethereal, profound and enthralling — Terence Davies’ Benediction is magnificent in every single way.”
A third critic lauded the biopic and wrote: “A great subject, a well-written, unspeakably brilliant cinematic drama and an extremely literate, lyrical and spiritual masterpiece.”
While a fourth critic, in an enthusiastic review, said: “This is a sumptuous, multi-layered, and tender piece of filmmaking from British director Terence Davies. Benediction is as beautifully rendered as the prose penned by its subject.”
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Jack Lowden and Kate Phillips in Benediction (Image: Laurence Cendrowicz)
Another reviewer, lauding Davies’s direction and the actors’ performances in the film, wrote: “Transcendent performances and visionary direction make for a numinous final film by Terence Davies.”
One fan of the film took to the review aggregator site and wrote: “This is one of the most beautiful stories I’ve watched and listened to. The film shares much more than could be reasonably expected and imparts a depth of humanity often missing from the lives of the people who pass through not only this man’s life but fleetingly through our own.”
While another audience member said: “Superb, cinema at its best, absolutely loved this film from beginning to end. It was a joy to watch but also so heartfelt, you really got a sense of the characters and the acting was marvelous.”
“Quite a masterpiece. Every nuance and aspect of this magnificent film is considered and timely. An understanding, thoughtfulness, honesty, and production that captures a number of philosophies beautifully,” commented one impressed viewer.
Benediction
SOURCE: MIRROR