Benediction Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A decorated war poet survives the trenches, then spends the rest of his life being sad, having messy gay affairs, and eventually converting to Catholicism because nobody seemed nice enough to stick around.

🍿 Benediction: Detailed Plot Synopsis

War Hero and Protest

The film opens with Siegfried Sassoon serving bravely in World War I, earning a Military Cross for his courage. However, witnessing the horrific realities of trench warfare and the seemingly endless casualties leads him to become a vocal critic of the war’s continuation.

Craiglockhart and Wilfred Owen

Instead of being court-martialed for his protest, Sassoon is sent to Craiglockhart War Hospital for shell shock. Here, he meets and mentors fellow poet Wilfred Owen, forging a deep connection born from shared trauma and artistic passion. Their bond becomes a central, albeit tragically brief, relationship in Sassoon’s life.

Post-War Society and Relationships

Returning to civilian life, Sassoon navigates the vibrant but often emotionally superficial world of London’s literary and social elite. The film explores his turbulent affairs with several prominent men, including the charismatic Ivor Novello and the flamboyant Stephen Tennant. These relationships are often marked by wit, passion, and eventual heartbreak, leaving Sassoon feeling adrift.

Search for Salvation

Struggling with the emotional scars of war and a life of transient relationships, Sassoon embarks on a quest for meaning and stability. This search leads him to attempt conformity through marriage and, later in life, conversion to Catholicism, hoping to find a sense of peace and belonging that has eluded him.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Siegfried Sassoon (Jack Lowden): A decorated World War I soldier and celebrated poet who becomes an outspoken critic of the war and struggles with his identity and tumultuous relationships throughout his life.
• Wilfred Owen (Matthew Tennyson): A younger fellow war poet whom Sassoon mentors and forms a profound connection with while they are both recovering in a military hospital.
• Ivor Novello (Jeremy Irvine): A charismatic and successful actor and composer who engages in a passionate but volatile relationship with Sassoon after the war.
• Stephen Tennant (Calam Lynch): A flamboyant and wealthy socialite known for his extravagant lifestyle, who becomes another significant lover of Sassoon in the post-war literary circles.
• Dr. Rivers (Ben Daniels): A compassionate psychiatrist at the war hospital who encourages Sassoon to process his trauma and validate his anti-war stance.
• Hester Gatty (Kate Phillips): The woman whom Sassoon marries later in life in an attempt to find a conventional life and escape his emotional turmoil.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Siegfried Sassoon: “Too afraid, too inhibited. Shamed by an inner corruption. Or perhaps it’s simply because of… What’s the phrase? “The love that dare not speak its name.”” – Sassoon speaks to Dr. Rivers during his time at Craiglockhart hospital, attempting to articulate his struggles with identity and sexuality.
• George Sassoon: “Most people live in the moment. You want to live in eternity.” – Said by Sassoon’s son to his elderly father, reflecting on Sassoon’s lifelong preoccupation with his past and the lost generation rather than the present.
• Ivor Novello: “Don’t forget, darling. There’s no love like the first love. And there’s no hate like the last.” – Ivor Novello delivers this cutting remark to Siegfried Sassoon during a confrontation after their tumultuous affair has ended.
• Stephen Tennant: “What’s the point of being miserable when you can be flamboyant?” – Stephen Tennant, known for his extravagant lifestyle, expresses his outlook on life to Siegfried Sassoon amidst their social circle.

💰Box Office

• Budget: N/A
• Domestic Gross: $201,093
• Worldwide Gross: $847,418

💥 Benediction Reviews

Personal Review

Stepping into Benediction felt like immersing myself in a beautifully melancholic painting. The film just *feels* different, slow and deliberate, letting you soak in the atmosphere and the weight of Sassoon’s experiences. I found the blend of wartime horror imagery with the later scenes of his tumultuous personal life really striking; it constantly reminds you that the war never really left him. Jack Lowden’s performance as the younger Sassoon was captivating. You really felt his struggle, caught between duty, conviction, and his own identity. The scenes with Wilfred Owen at Craiglockhart were particularly poignant and moving for me. The later years, with Peter Capaldi, were heartbreakingly sad, showing the toll a life lived without true peace can take. Yes, the film’s pacing is slow, and it jumps around, which might not work for everyone, but for me, it created a dreamlike, reflective quality that suited the subject matter perfectly. It’s a film that stays with you long after the credits roll, making you think about trauma, identity, and the elusive search for solace.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of historical dramas and biopics”
  • “Viewers interested in World War I history and poetry”
  • “Those interested in LGBTQ+ history and experiences”
  • “Admirers of director Terence Davies’ work”
  • “Audiences who appreciate character-driven stories with complex emotional themes”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Depictions of war trauma and its psychological effects (PTSD)”
  • “Archival footage of WWI casualties”
  • “Mature thematic material including sexuality and complex relationships”
  • “Some instances of strong language and emotional distress”

Professional Reviews

• IMDb User Review: “Terence Davies delivers a beautifully filmed, deeply poetic, and profoundly sad look at the life of Siegfried Sassoon. While some find its pacing slow or structure disjointed, its emotional core resonates, particularly in depicting the lasting trauma of war and the search for acceptance. The performances, especially Jack Lowden’s, are sublime, capturing the complexity of a man navigating a fractured world. It’s an elegy for a lost generation and a troubled soul.
• IMDb User Review: “Benediction is a meandering and flawed attempt to capture the turbulent life of Siegfried Sassoon. The narrative jumps around erratically, struggling to find a cohesive focus beyond his homosexual relationships and post-war bitterness. Despite strong production values and capable acting, particularly Peter Capaldi as the older Sassoon, the film feels overlong and indulgent. It touches on interesting themes like war trauma and societal repression but fails to blend them into a compelling or insightful whole.
• IMDb User Review: “This film is a gorgeous, if sometimes demanding, portrait of Siegfried Sassoon. The integration of his poetry and archival war footage creates a powerful emotional landscape. While the narrative structure is unconventional, jumping between time periods and relationships, it effectively conveys a sense of a life haunted by the past and struggling for peace. It’s a film best appreciated for its mood, performances, and reflection on a man’s search for belonging in a world that couldn’t fully accept him.

Audience Reactions

Many viewers were moved by the portrayal of Sassoon’s lasting trauma from World War I.: The acting across the board, particularly Jack Lowden and Peter Capaldi, received high praise for their nuanced performances. The film’s aesthetic beauty, including cinematography and period detail, was also widely appreciated.

The integration of Sassoon’s and Owen’s poetry with the visuals was a powerful element for many.: Audiences often noted the film’s slow, deliberate pace, which some found contemplative and fitting, while others found it tedious and meandering. The focus on Sassoon’s personal relationships was a point of division, seen by some as insightful and by others as repetitive or stereotypical.

The final scenes featuring Peter Capaldi left a strong, sad impression on viewers.: There was a consensus that the film requires patience and is likely best suited for viewers interested in historical biopics, poetry, and introspective dramas, rather than those seeking a fast-paced narrative.

Overall Consensus: Benediction is a visually striking and well-acted, though often somber and slow-paced, character study of poet Siegfried Sassoon, admired for its poetic sensibility and exploration of trauma and identity, but divisive in its narrative structure and focus on personal relationships.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The film includes the narration of seven of Siegfried Sassoon’s poems.”
• “Siegfried Sassoon is depicted discarding his Military Cross ribbon, not the medal itself. The actual medal was inherited by his son, George.”
• “Scenes for the film were shot on location at Chillington Hall in the United Kingdom.”
• “Director Terence Davies deliberately incorporated genuine historical footage from World War I trenches and battles into the film.”

🖥️ How to Watch Benediction?

Discover where to watch ‘Benediction’, the acclaimed biopic about poet Siegfried Sassoon. You can typically rent or buy ‘Benediction’ on platforms like Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check these services for current availability and pricing options.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Benediction, you might like these similar films:

• Regeneration (1997): Directly covers the same historical period and characters, focusing on Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon’s time at Craiglockhart War Hospital.
• A Quiet Passion (2016): Also directed by Terence Davies, this biopic explores the life of another complex poet, Emily Dickinson, focusing on artistic struggle, societal constraints, and inner life.
• Maurice (1987): Explores the experiences of a gay man navigating relationships and societal prejudice in early 20th-century England, touching on themes of identity and conformity during a similar era.
• The Imitation Game (2014): A biographical drama about Alan Turing, a brilliant man navigating historical prejudice against his sexuality while making vital contributions during a major war, echoing themes of hidden identity and wartime context.
• Brideshead Revisited (1981 TV Series): Captures the atmosphere and social dynamics of the English aristocracy and ‘Bright Young People’ circle in the post-WWI era, a milieu frequented by Sassoon and characters like Stephen Tennant.

🛒 Benediction Related Products

• The War Poems of Siegfried Sassoon (Faber Paperbacks): A comprehensive collection of Sassoon’s powerful and unflinching poetry written during and after World War I, capturing the horrors of the trenches and his anti-war sentiments.
• Benediction Blu-ray / DVD (Special Edition): Own the acclaimed film in high definition, possibly including bonus features like behind-the-scenes footage, interviews with cast and crew, or critical analysis. Perfect for film enthusiasts and collectors.
• Strange Meetings: The Poets of the Great War: An insightful exploration of the lives and works of the major British poets of World War I, including Sassoon, Owen, and Graves, providing crucial historical and literary context for the film.
• The Twenties: The Roaring Twenties Music Collection: A collection of popular music from the 1920s, reflecting the era of glamour and excess depicted in some parts of the film when Sassoon socialized with figures like Ivor Novello.

🎧 Soundtrack

Benediction features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Concert Interpretation” – performed by Siegfried Sassoon (Poem)
• “Died of Wounds” – performed by Siegfried Sassoon (Poem)
• “When I’m among a Blaze of Lights” – performed by Siegfried Sassoon (Poem)
• “To my Mother” – performed by Siegfried Sassoon (Poem)
• “To my Brother” – performed by Siegfried Sassoon (Poem)
• “Attack” – performed by Siegfried Sassoon (Poem)
• “Invocation” – performed by Siegfried Sassoon (Poem)
• “Disabled” – performed by Wilfred Owen (Poem)
• “Stop the World I Want to Get Off (Song)” – performed by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley
• “Period Music Selections” – performed by Various Artists (1920s-1960s)

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Siegfried Sassoon – First World War Poet | Biographical Documentary

Curious about the real life of Siegfried Sassoon, the amazing poet from the movie? This documentary is a must-watch – it really helps you understand his journey and the challenges he faced. I found it added so much perspective after seeing the film!

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