Every year, we are fortunate enough to see films at festivals that don’t actually get released until a year or so later. One of the standout pictures from last year is “Benediction,” which is finally about to arrive in theaters.
READ MORE: The 20 Best Films Of 2022 We’ve Already Seen
As seen in the trailer for the film, “Benediction” is directed by Terence Davies and tells the story of Siegfried Sassoon, a soldier in World War I who would go on to become a critic of the government after his time in battle. In the film, he is played by Jack Lowden and Peter Capaldi, as we see the growth of Sassoon from soldier to poet.
“Benediction” debuted at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival. In our review, we said, “Despite LGBTQ+ themes being explored in his earlier works, ‘Benediction’ is the queerest film the publicly gay Davies has made to date. Considering how rarely gay relationships in this period are explored, it’s a welcome addition to the director’s cinematic legacy. And when ‘Benediction’ is most compelling, Davies chronicles Sassoon’s ‘shadow gay life’ before his marriage. It’s an almost temporary respite from the horrific memories of the Great War, which are evident in his prose.”
“Benediction” will arrive in theaters this spring.
Here’s the synopsis:
A complex man who survived the horrors of fighting in the First World War, Siegfried Sassoon (Jack Lowden / Peter Capaldi), a soldier decorated for his bravery on the battlefield, became a vocal critic of the government’s continuation of the war when he returned from service. Legendary still today for his poetry inspired by his experiences on the Western Front, he was adored by both members of the aristocracy as well as stars of London’s literary and theatre scene. He embarked on affairs with several high-profile men as he attempted to come to terms with his homosexuality, whilst at the same time, broken by the horrors of war, his life’s journey became a quest for salvation.
Update: “Benediction” is now in theaters June 3, 2022, via Roadside Attractions. Watch the new trailer below.