It is interesting to see what artists conjure up later in their lives. “Benediction” is the eighth film from seventy-six-year-old British writer and director Terence Davies. And with the film heading to cinemas this week, we’re thrilled to give our readers an exclusive look at a clip from the film.
READ MORE: ‘Benediction’ Trailer: Terence Davies’ Period Drama Arrives In June
The film saw its premiere back in September last year at the Toronto International Film Festival, only now finally coming out in America. In our review for “Benediction,” we took note of it as an LGBTQ+ period piece, stating that “considering how rarely gay relationships in this period are explored, it’s a welcome addition to the director’s cinematic legacy.” For those who enjoy poetry and love to go with stories of a tragic past, this may be worth a viewing.
Here’s the official 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.
Starring Jack Lowden, Peter Capaldi, Simon Russell Beale, Jeremy Irvine, Calam Lynch, Tom Blyth, Kate Phillips, Geraldine James, Gemma Jones, and Ben Daniels, “Benediction” releases in theaters on June 3 via Roadside Attractions. Watch a new exclusive clip from the film below.