The BBC is known for hosting several critically acclaimed films on its iPlayer service, and earlier this month, it added One Life, a 2023 biopic on the life of humanitarian Nicholas Winton, who died in 2015 at the age of 106.

The film, which stars both Anthony Hopkins and Johnny Flynn as the late humanitarian focuses on Nicholas’ life as he successfully rescues 699 predominantly Jewish children flee from Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia just before the outbreak of World War II.

The film also documents Nicholas’ later life as his efforts are brought to the attention of the British public thanks to That’s Life!. In a poignant moment, Nicholas is in the audience of the show, unaware that he is surrounded by people who owed their lives to him.

A synopsis for the film reads: “London broker Nicholas “Nicky” Winton helps rescue hundreds of predominantly Jewish children from Czechoslovakia in a race against time before the Nazi occupation closes the borders. Fifty years later, he’s still haunted by the fate of those he wasn’t able to bring to safety.”

A year after its release, the film won the Cinema for Peace Dove for The Most Valuable Film of the Year.

Response

One Life was critically acclaimed upon its release, with the film having a 91% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The website’s consensus reads: “Held aloft by outstanding work from a tremendous cast, One Life pays heartwarming tribute to a remarkable humanitarian effort.“

In a four-star review for The Guardian, Peter Bradshaw wrote: “You’d need a heart of stone not to be touched by this extraordinary true story of Nicholas Winton, the ‘British Schindler’, and by the simplicity and heartfelt directness with which it’s told by screenwriters Nick Drake and Lucinda Coxon and director James Hawes.”

Anthony Hopkins in a still image from One Life
© Alamy Stock Photo
The film focuses on the true story of Nicholas Winton

Fans were also touched by the moving film, with one saying: “A magnificent story brought about by the evil that people are capable of,” while a second posted: “It truly is something that needed to be told, then and now, and is done so in a suitably serious but heartwarming manner. Do go and see it and do be prepared for the final scenes.”

A third added: “This is truly an exceptional piece of work. Having seen the trailer it could’ve easily been made to look and feel quite tacky but I was genuinely surprised and extremely impressed by what has been accomplished,” while a forth simply commented: “A captivating movie.”

Who stars in One Life?

Portraying Nicholas in different parts of his life are Anthony Hopkins and Johnny Flynn. Anthony, known for Silence of the Lambs, plays the late humanitarian in his later life, while Johnny, known for playing David Bowie in Stardust, portrays him in his earlier life.

Johnny Flynn in a still image from One Life
© Alamy Stock Photo
Johnny portrayed a younger Nicholas

Also joining the cast are Helena Bonham Carter (Harry Potter), Lena Olin (Chocolat), Jonathan Pryce (The Crown), Romola Garai (Vanity Fair), Alex Sharp (3 Body Problem), Samantha Spiro (Sex Education), Samuel Finzi (The Black Sea), Marthe Keller (Marathon Man), Michael Gould (Silent Witness), Adrian Rawlins (Chernobyl) and Antonie Formanova (Occupation).