Director
Terence Davies
(A QUIET PASSION, THE HOUSE OF MIRTH)

Starring
Jack Lowden, Peter Capaldi and Jeremy Irvine

Benediction is the story of Siegfried Sassoon, an acclaimed poet who fought in the First World War which inspired much of his writing. His poems focused greatly on the horror of war in the trenches on the Western Front, and he took pleasure in thumbing his nose at the reasoning that the government tried to use to justify the war. His defiance of the war was ironic given the subject if of his works made him the notable literary figure subjected here, with his legacy enduring to this day.  Sassoon was a wildly conflicted man, in addition to his protestations of the war, he was also wrestling with his attraction to and relationships with other men, as well as the questioning of his faith; having been raised Jewish but later converting to Catholicism.

Director Terence Davies has a tendency of incorporating his own life story into his films, and he was certainly the best choice to direct this. The influence in his direction of the story of a young gay man is obvious and adds relatable layers that others may not have been able to achieve. Jack Lowden playing the younger version of Sassoon (with Peter Capaldi taking the reigns as an older version) was inspired. He channels a great deal of the soul of this young poet.

The film overall can be somewhat slow, but also poignant and entirely moving. There are many layers to man at the subject of this examination and each one is given the attention it deserves. The supporting cast each add their own flair and were astute selections.

This film feels personal for Terence Davies, almost auto-biographical in a sense. But that personal touch, those layers of self are what make this film that little bit more special. It’s like a two-for-one of great gay artists. Even if you’ve never heard of either man, you’ll leave this film better for the experience.

Benediction is in select cinemas from June 9.