Directed by:
Brian KirkCinematography:
David OddComposer:
Adrian JohnstonCast:
David Haig, Daniel Radcliffe, Kim Cattrall, Julian Wadham, Laurence Kinlan, Carey Mulligan, Peter O'Meara, Bill Milner, Robbie Kay, Martin McCann (more)VOD (1)
Plots(1)
It’s 1915 and World War I has been declared. Aged only 17, Kipling’s son, like most of his generation, is swept up in the enthusiasm to fight the Germans, a mood stoked vigorously by his father. Jack is cripplingly short sighted and the army has rejected him twice, rendering him too myopic even for an army suffering thousands of casualties a week and desperate for recruits. Yet Rudyard is undeterred, determined that his son should go to the front, like countless other sons, and fight for the values that he, Kipling, espouses so publicly. Using his fame and influence, Kipling persuades Lord Roberts, on his death bed, to get Jack a commission in the Irish guards. This intervention is barely tolerated by Carrie and daughter Elise (Carey Mulligan), as they disagree that Jack is fit to fight and fear for his safety on the front line. Jack is instantly popular with his troop he is a great leader and trains tirelessly to overcome the disability that is his eyesight. Six months later Jack sails to France as a lieutenant. Jack went missing in action during the Battle of Loos and his mother and father carried out an increasingly desperate search for him, spanning many years and many miles. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Reviews (1)
It's incredible how one character can affect the view of an actor as a whole. Yes, I'm talking about Daniel Radcliffe. As the mustachioed officer, he looks a little too macho at times, and the fact that he wears glasses like his most famous character is just a minor cosmetic similarity. But enough criticism! As for the execution, for a TV movie, it's a standard that neither offends nor impresses. The cast is likeable and the story is solidly presented. In short, proof of how one role can overshadow all the other acting feats.
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