Sir Nicholas Winton film 'brought tears to my eyes', says son

The son of Sir Nicholas Winton has said he is looking forward to the release of the film about his father’s life – and said he was ‘very emotional’ by what he has seen so far.

One Life, starring Sir Anthony Hopkins as the famous face of the celebrated Maidonian and humanitarian, is set to premiere in the autumn.

It covers the story of how, on the eve of the Second World War, a young Nicholas Winton saved more than 600 Jewish children from the Nazis – and in his later life, regretted that he couldn’t do more.

Nick Winton, his son, has been able to have sneak preview of some of the film – and though must remain tight-lipped on the content, can reveal that what he has seen made him ‘very emotional’.

“It did bring tears to my eyes – which is strange, for a story that I know,” he said. “It’s very personal. At times it was like I was in the same room as my father, which was quite an extraordinary feeling.

“It’s been so well put together. It was quite remarkable.”

The film is based on the book ‘If It’s Not Impossible…: The Life of Sir Nicholas Winton’ by Nick’s sister and Sir Nicholas’ daughter, the late Barbara Winton.

“She’s been very meticulous in making sure that the story she put together hasn’t been over-embellished,” said Nick.

“Some of the media has tended to make out like he is some sort of superhero, which is absolutely not the case. He was an ordinary man.”

Sir Nicholas Winton passed away in 2015, at the age of 106.

He was ‘very self-effacing, modest and unassuming’, said Nick, with ‘a great sense of humour and a great sense of when something was injustice.’

“He felt it was not good enough to stand by – he always felt he should be involved,” he said.

“When he saw things that weren’t right, he felt he had to act. I think that was captured very well.”

The film highlights the mismatch between how Sir Nicholas saw himself versus how the public saw him – his struggle to accept the extraordinary impact of his humanitarian acts on individual people.

Nick said his father was often ‘embarrassed’ when he received awards.

“When he was given an award, he would pin it on his pyjamas and wear it at night, then put it in a drawer and forget about it,” he said.

“He wasn’t in the group of people who wear medals on their chests.”

Nick was also quite taken with the representation of his grandmother, with whom he used to spend much time in his young years.

In the film, Sir Nicholas’ mother Babi Winton is a big part of the story and is played by Helena Bonham Carter.

“She comes across beautifully,” Nick said. “She’s quite a strong character.

“Bear in mind, the film is set in the mid-1930s, when it was definitely a man’s world.

“She was very willing to stand up and say her piece, which was certainly something I remember from her.”

Nick added that he found it ‘amazing that a story that is now 80 years old is still so relevant.’

“The activities that he got involved with, you could say that if it was happening today, you wouldn’t think it was out of place,” he said.

“This film is a great reminder to all of us how important individuals are in helping to improve the world.

“My father was an ordinary man who did what he felt needed to be done. I think the film really encapsulates that spirit – that it could be any one of us, if we make the effort.”

The film is expected to premiere at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival, set for September 7–17.