Testament Of Youth (2014)

Based on Vera Brittain's famous WW1 memoir, Testament of Youth is a powerful coming of age drama, telling the story of bright, young feminist Vera Brittain (Alice Vikander) growing up in the age of war. A heart wrenching story of determination, love, war and loss.

The film follows Vera as she breaks free of the prejudices of the time. Her father did not want her to go to university, favouring her younger brother, Edward, because he was a man. However, Vera's determination paid off and she managed to pass the entrance exams to Oxford university.

While spending a summer with Edward and his two best friends Vera meets charming poet Roland Leighton (Kit Harrington) - also set to study at Oxford - who encourages her to follow her dream of becoming a writer. Soon Vera and Roland fall in love and her hopes and dreams of Oxford start to become reality, but World War One looms and Vera's perfect new life starts to fall apart.

The lead actors; Alicia Vikander (Vera) and Kit Harington (Roland) were convincing in their roles and easy to empathise with. The supporting actors Taron Egerton (Edward Brittain) and Colin Morgan (Edward's friend Victor) were excellent and added a great energy to the story.

The design and cinematography for Testament of Youth are aesthetically beautiful, with stunning rural and coastal scenes which balance out dreadful imagery of the horror of war at the front.

Down to the core this film is a heartfelt story of a woman facing tragedy and overcoming it. The fact that the story is a genuine witness testimony makes it more powerful but, for me, I felt the film needed to be told with a bit more passion and anger rather than just sadness.

I remember really liking the film while I was watching it, but left with an overwhelming feeling of sadness and a heavy heart.