To paraphrase a certain line of dialogue always directed at Kit Harrington’s Game of Thrones character, you know nothing about Alicia Vikander. Or at least you probably used to know nothing, as the young Swedish actress is on the cusp of true stardom. After being very popular in her homeland, Vikander has been landing ever bigger roles in American and British productions like Anna Karenina, The Fifth Estate and the upcoming The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and The Seventh Son.
She’s also landed the gig of playing and bringing to life the acclaimed memoirs of famed British author, feminist and pacifist Vera Brittain, which is what brings us to this trailer for BBC Film’s adaptation of Testament of Youth. Brittain’s story is quite the dramatic one, and could make for some prime material for an up-and-coming actress to really become a recognizable star.
And speaking of recognizable, the previously mentioned Harrington is everything but in his role as Brittain’s WWI-bound fiancee, which sees him forgoing his trademark hobo-beard and hair like a windswept Afghan Hound. Don’t worry ladies, I’m sure the abs are still there under those army fatigues.
TESTAMENT OF YOUTH is a searing story of love and war. Based on the classic First World War memoir, this is the incredible true story of one young woman’s struggle to survive the horrors of war, which robbed her of everyone and everything she held dear, but was ultimately unable to break her extraordinary spirit.
Vera Brittain, irrepressible, intelligent and free-minded, overcomes the prejudices of her family and hometown to win a scholarship to Oxford. With everything to live for, she falls in love with her brother’s close friend Roland Leighton as they go to University to pursue their literary dreams. But the First World War is looming and as the boys leave for the front Vera realises she cannot sit idly by as her peers fight for their country, so volunteers as a nurse. She works tirelessly, experiencing all the grief of war, as one by one her fiancé, her brother and their closest friends are all killed and the pillars of her world shattered. But, an indefatigable spirit, Vera endures and returns to Oxford, irrevocably changed, yet determined to create a world in which such a war can never take place again.
Testament of Youth was directed by James Kent, and also stars a batch of top UK talent like Taron Egerton, Colin Morgan, Dominic West, Emily Watson, Hayley Atwell, and Anna Chancellor. The film is scheduled for release sometime in 2015.
Last Updated: August 5, 2014
