You have probably seen the viral video: a clip from the British TV show “That’s Life!” showing an elderly man sitting in the front row of a studio audience. The show’s hosts introduce him to those sitting around him, and he learns they were all rescued by him during World War II. They were among the 669 children brought safely out of Czechoslovakia on the eve of World War II.
One Life tells the incredible story of this man -- Nicky Winton (Johnny Flynn), a young London stock broker who visits Prague in 1938. He is shocked to see how many refugees are sheltering there having been driven from their homelands by the Nazis. He learns from the British Committee for Refugees in Czechoslovakia (Alex Sharp, Romola Garai) that they expect the Nazis to invade Prague soon. Nicky decides that he must act to get as many of the children to safety as possible.
With his mother in England (Helena Bonham Carter), he sets up a system to choose the children, get their exit visas, arrange train transport, and find homes for them in England. It is a heart-breaking process as some children cannot go, families may have to be separated, and they are running out of time.
Fifty years later, Nicky (Anthony Hopkins) is haunted by those he could not save. In his office in England, he has a scrapbook with pictures, souvenirs, and stories about the children. It is this book that convinces “That’s Life!” to feature him on television and connect him with the survivors.
In her book Have Hope, a daybook of inspirational quotes matched to events and mentors who demonstrate reasons to have hope,Maggie Oman Shannon writes: “Real-life examples of people who embody hope through their thoughts, words, and deeds can bring hope to nearly everyone.” As an exercise, she asks two questions:
· Whose example makes you feel hopeful that you can make it through any challenge?
· Whose life story makes you feel hopeful that you can achieve what you want to bring to the world?
After watching this biopic, you’ll want to put Nicky Winton on your list.