"There's only one thing worse than remaining in the past, mother, and that's begrudging the future."
This earnest British period (World War I) drama charts celebrated war poet Siegfried Sassoon's journey through his emerging anti-war stance, his creative life and his personal relationships, with the questioning younger incantation (Jack Lowden) juxtaposed with the older embittered self (Peter Capaldi). The cast is impeccable, with both lead actors providing excellent character work, and with notable supporting performances from Ben Daniels as young Sassoon's counsellor and Jeremy Irvine as his obnoxiously self-absorbed lover Ivor Novello. Incorporating real contemporary black and white war footage works well for the most part, although some of the narrative and filmic devices used are less convincing and feel self-indulgent. The film is somewhat dour and self-conscious in style, but it works best when the script with wit and intelligence, and it is possible that there could have been more time spent with the older Sassoon to give the film more balance.
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