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Benediction

Play trailer 2:09 Poster for Benediction PG-13 2022 2h 17m Biography History Drama War LGBTQ+ Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
91% Tomatometer 154 Reviews 65% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Verified Ratings
Written and directed by acclaimed filmmaker Terence Davies, Benediction explores the turbulent life of WWI poet Siegfried Sassoon (Jack Lowden). The writer and soldier was a complex man who survived the horrors of fighting in the First World War and was decorated for his bravery but who became a vocal critic of the government's continuation of the war when he returned from service. His poetry was inspired by his experiences on the Western Front, and he became one of the leading war poets of the era. Adored by members of the aristocracy as well as stars of London's literary and stage world, he embarked on affairs with several men as he attempted to come to terms with his homosexuality. At the same time, broken by the horror of war, he made his life's journey a quest for salvation, trying to find it within the conformity of marriage and religion.
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Benediction

Benediction

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Critics Consensus

It isn't an easy watch, but Benediction uncovers a profoundly affecting drama in the real-life story of a combat veteran whose poetry warned against the horrors of war.

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Critics Reviews

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Christina Newland iNews.co.uk Sep 18, 2024
3/5
For a film-maker as wonderful as Davies, Benediction is a missed opportunity. Go to Full Review Alissa Wilkinson Vox Aug 5, 2022
There is no happy-go-lucky ending here, only the sense that an ineffable longing we have, to know and be known, is so precious and rare that most of us never find its fulfillment here on Earth. Go to Full Review David Sims The Atlantic Aug 3, 2022
Davies is a remarkably empathetic filmmaker, attuned to his characters’ subtlest moods and intent on equally depicting their joys, hardships, and mundane middle grounds. Go to Full Review Christos Tsiolkas The Saturday Paper Aug 21, 2026
I felt nothing: Davies’ busy imagery obfuscates the poem’s power. He’s the wrong director for this film. He doesn’t the trust the poets. Go to Full Review CJ Sheu The News Lens International Sep 6, 2024
Transcendent performances and visionary direction make for a numinous final film by Terence Davies. Go to Full Review William Stottor Loud and Clear Reviews Jul 18, 2024
3/5
Often poignant but frequently disjointed, Benediction is a scattered portrait of First World War poet Siegfried Sassoon, juggling themes of homosexuality, war and religion. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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David P Jun 20, 2022 A profoundly moving character study. See more Jon B Jun 15, 2022 The movie was done very tastefully. I thought it started off a bit slow, but, I guess they had to set the scene. See more Google Jun 13, 2022 This was an incredibly slow movie. I have never felt a WWI-related movie (of which I have seen many) was done so badly. The jumping back and forth in time wasn't well-used either. Pick a topic related to Sassoon and stick with it. Argh. See more Joe Jun 5, 2022 No idea what I just watched. Save yourself and run. See more anneliese Jun 4, 2022 Long, boring story of a talented man who was drawn to all kind of gay men, but the one he wanted most thru his whole life was unfaithful, unkind, and arrogantly evil. Why the heck couldn’t he choose one of the guys who was morale, loving, and faithful, like he claimed to be? Utterly hopeless and depressing movie! See more R Victor B Jun 4, 2022 This is a beautifully made movie the weaving of the poetry and the contemporary films of the horrors of the Great War, World War I, work wonderfully to make a moving story of a man and his iconoclastic life. The acting is superb, and the young man/old man juxtaposition works so much better than in most similar situations. See more Read all reviews
Benediction

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Cast & Crew

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Terence Davies

Director

Jack Lowden

Young Siegfried Sassoon

Peter Capaldi

Siegfried Sassoon

Simon Russell Beale

Robbie Ross

Jeremy Irvine

Ivor Novello

Calam Lynch

Stephen Tennant

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Benediction

Benediction: Movie Clip - Blaze of Lights Benediction: Movie Clip - Blaze of Lights 1:29 Now Playing Benediction: Movie Clip - Reliving the Past Benediction: Movie Clip - Reliving the Past 1:09 Now Playing View more videos

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Benediction

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Benediction

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Movie Info

Synopsis Written and directed by acclaimed filmmaker Terence Davies, Benediction explores the turbulent life of WWI poet Siegfried Sassoon (Jack Lowden). The writer and soldier was a complex man who survived the horrors of fighting in the First World War and was decorated for his bravery but who became a vocal critic of the government's continuation of the war when he returned from service. His poetry was inspired by his experiences on the Western Front, and he became one of the leading war poets of the era. Adored by members of the aristocracy as well as stars of London's literary and stage world, he embarked on affairs with several men as he attempted to come to terms with his homosexuality. At the same time, broken by the horror of war, he made his life's journey a quest for salvation, trying to find it within the conformity of marriage and religion.
Director
Terence Davies
Producer
Michael Elliott
Screenwriter
Terence Davies
Distributor
Roadside Attractions
Production Co
M.Y.R.A. Entertainment, Creative England, British Film Institute, BBC Films, Lipsync Productions, EMU Films
Rating
PG-13 (Thematic Elements|Some Sexual Material|Disturbing War Images)
Genre
Biography, History, Drama, War, LGBTQ+
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 3, 2022, Limited
Box Office (Gross USA)
$201.1K
Runtime
2h 17m
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