Benediction (film)

The film follows the life of Siegfried Sassoon, a British poet and decorated World War I combat veteran who was sent to a psychiatric facility for his anti-war stance. He had love affairs with several men during the 1920s, married, had a son, and converted to Catholicism.

{{castlist|

• Jack Lowden as Siegfried Sassoon
• Peter Capaldi as older Siegfried Sassoon
• Simon Russell Beale as Robbie Ross
• Jeremy Irvine as Ivor Novello
• Kate Phillips as Hester Gatty
• Gemma Jones as older Hester Gatty
• Ben Daniels as Dr Rivers
• Calam Lynch as Stephen Tennant
• Anton Lesser as older Stephen Tennant
• Tom Blyth as Glen Byam Shaw
• Matthew Tennyson as Wilfred Owen
• Geraldine James as Theresa Thornycroft
• Richard Goulding as George Sassoon
• Lia Williams as Edith Sitwell
• Suzanne Bertish as Lady Ottoline Morrell
• Julian Sands as Chief Medical Officer
• Jude Akuwudike as Priest
• Giovanna Ria as Nurse

}}

In January 2020, Jack Lowden joined the cast of the film, with Terence Davies directing from a screenplay he had written.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/01/jack-lowden-siegfried-sassoon-terence-davies-biopic-benediction-1202833663/|title=Jack Lowden To Star As WWI Poet Siegfried Sassoon In Terence Davies Biopic 'Benediction'|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Andreas|last=Wiseman|date=17 January 2020|accessdate=17 September 2020|archive-date=17 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117202245/https://deadline.com/2020/01/jack-lowden-siegfried-sassoon-terence-davies-biopic-benediction-1202833663/|url-status=live}} In March 2020, Peter Capaldi joined the cast of the film.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/03/coronavirus-terence-davies-benediction-jack-lowden-halting-production-days-before-shoot-1202893371/|title=Coping With COVID-19 Crisis: Director Terence Davies & Producer Mike Elliott On Halting Long-Gestating Movie 'Benediction' Days Before Shoot|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Andreas|last=Wiseman|date=27 March 2020|accessdate=17 September 2020|archive-date=27 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200327142454/https://deadline.com/2020/03/coronavirus-terence-davies-benediction-jack-lowden-halting-production-days-before-shoot-1202893371/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2020/11/jack-lowden-terence-davies-benediction-wraps-shoot-gerladine-james-simon-russell-beale-1234607510/ |title=Terence Davies' WWI Drama 'Benediction' Wraps Shoot With Geraldine James, Jeremy Irvine, Simon Russell Beale Among Joiners; First Look At Jack Lowden Pic |date=2 November 2020 |access-date=2 November 2020 |archive-date=26 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210626164420/https://deadline.com/2020/11/jack-lowden-terence-davies-benediction-wraps-shoot-gerladine-james-simon-russell-beale-1234607510/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=https://www.leftlion.co.uk/read/2021/february/interview-with-tom-blyth-actor-nottingham-hbo-the-gilded-age/|title=Tom Blyth on His Journey from the TV Workshop to HBO's The Gilded Age|website=Left Lion|first=Roshan|last=Chandry|date=23 February 2021|access-date=9 April 2021|archive-date=27 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127100454/https://www.leftlion.co.uk/read/2021/february/interview-with-tom-blyth-actor-nottingham-hbo-the-gilded-age/|url-status=live}} Principal photography began on 8 September 2020,{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CE46R-phe7x/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/nicdaleydp/2393919524144803569 |archive-date=25 December 2021 |url-access=registration|title=So exciting to be up and shooting again with the amazing Terence Davies|website=Instagram|first=Nicola|last=Daley|date=8 September 2020|accessdate=26 October 2020}}{{cbignore}}{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CFPTPD8ASTt/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/jack.lowden/2400221724315559149 |archive-date=25 December 2021 |url-access=registration|title=Hello Siggy.|website=Instagram|first=Jack|last=Lowden|date=17 September 2020|accessdate=17 September 2020}}{{cbignore}}{{cite news|url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/whats-on/film-news/doctor-who-star-shooting-film-19085753|title=Why a Doctor Who star was shooting with film crews in Leamington this week|website=Coventry Telegraph|first=Enda|last=Mullen|date=11 October 2020|accessdate=15 October 2020|archive-date=28 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028143707/https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/whats-on/film-news/doctor-who-star-shooting-film-19085753|url-status=live}} and finished on 22 October 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CGr9mS3BdmR/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/nicdaleydp/2426303736696920465 |archive-date=25 December 2021 |url-access=registration|title=That's a wrap on 'Benediction' after a 7 week shoot|website=Instagram|first=Nicola|last=Daley|date=23 October 2020|accessdate=26 October 2020}}{{cbignore}}{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/MYRAent/status/1320041993276256256|title=It's a wrap on #terencedavies's new feature film, #benediction|website=Twitter|author=M.Y.R.A. Entertainment|date=24 October 2020|accessdate=26 October 2020|archive-date=24 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024165423/https://twitter.com/MYRAent/status/1320041993276256256|url-status=live}}

Benediction had its world premiere as a Special Presentation at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival on 12 September.{{Cite web|last=Rubin|first=Rebecca|date=20 July 2021|title=Toronto Film Festival Lineup Adds 'Dear Evan Hansen,' 'The Eyes of Tammy Faye' and 'Clifford the Big Red Dog'|url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/toronto-film-festival-dear-evan-hansen-1235023598/|url-status=live|access-date=20 July 2021|website=Variety|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210720142739/https://variety.com/2021/film/news/toronto-film-festival-dear-evan-hansen-1235023598/ |archive-date=20 July 2021 }} That same month, the film's UK and Ireland distribution rights were acquired by Vertigo Films.{{cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/terence-davies-siegfried-sassoon-drama-benediction-sells-to-uk-ireland-anz-exclusive/5163035.article|title=Terence Davies' Siegfried Sassoon drama 'Benediction' sells to UK, Ireland, ANZ (exclusive)|last=Rosser|first=Michael|work=Screen International|date=6 September 2021|accessdate=16 October 2021|archive-date=18 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210918110353/https://www.screendaily.com/news/terence-davies-siegfried-sassoon-drama-benediction-sells-to-uk-ireland-anz-exclusive/5163035.article|url-status=live}} In October 2021, Roadside Attractions acquired North American distribution rights to the film.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/10/jack-lowden-terence-davies-benediction-roadside-attractions-1234856444/|title=Terence Davies Drama 'Benediction', Starring Jack Lowden, Snapped Up By Roadside Attractions For North America|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Andreas|last=Wiseman|date=15 October 2021|access-date=15 October 2021|archive-date=15 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211015164129/https://deadline.com/2021/10/jack-lowden-terence-davies-benediction-roadside-attractions-1234856444/|url-status=live}} It was released in United Kingdom on 20 May 2022 and United States on 3 June 2022.

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, Benediction has an approval rating of 93% based on 149 reviews, with an average rating of 7.7/10. The site's consensus reads, "It isn't an easy watch, but Benediction uncovers a profoundly affecting drama in the real-life story of a combat veteran whose poetry warned against the horrors of war."{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/benediction|title=Benediction (2021)|website=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=20 July 2022|archive-date=3 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240903152133/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/benediction|url-status=live}} Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 81 out of 100 based on 32 critic reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/benediction|title=Benediction Reviews - Metacritic|website=Metacritic|access-date=3 September 2022|archive-date=3 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240903152428/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/benediction/|url-status=live}} The IndieWire Critics Poll of 165 critics named it the 13th best film released in 2022.{{Cite news |last=Foreman |first=Alison |date=December 14, 2022 |title=The 50 Best Movies of 2022, According to 165 Critics from Around the World |work=IndieWire |url=https://www.indiewire.com/gallery/50-best-movies-2022-critics-poll/ |access-date=January 8, 2022 |archive-date=27 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221227190022/https://www.indiewire.com/gallery/50-best-movies-2022-critics-poll/ |url-status=live }}

In response to the film's portrayal of Sassoon's conversion to Catholicism, the poet's niece, Sister Jessica Gatty, R.A., (who attributes her own conversion to Sassoon's influence), made a public statement to clarify that her uncle had been both at peace and joyful in his later years. She wrote: "The redemption which he sought in many different ways and which he longed for, was found in the last decade of his life when he came home to Christ in the Catholic Church. He was transformed. I can witness to this, so I need to speak out."{{cite web|url=https://catholicherald.co.uk/siegfried-sassoons-niece-hits-out-at-biopic-over-serious-misrepresentation-of-poets-catholic-faith/|title=Siegfried Sassoon's niece hits out at biopic over misrepresentation of poet's Catholic faith|website=Catholic Herald|date=3 July 2022|access-date=21 October 2022|archive-date=21 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021212524/https://catholicherald.co.uk/siegfried-sassoons-niece-hits-out-at-biopic-over-serious-misrepresentation-of-poets-catholic-faith/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |last=Caldwell |first=Simon |date=2022-07-03 |title=Siegfried Sassoon's niece hits out at biopic over misrepresentation of poet's Catholic faith |url=https://catholicherald.co.uk/siegfried-sassoons-niece-hits-out-at-biopic-over-serious-misrepresentation-of-poets-catholic-faith/ |access-date=2023-10-22 |website=Catholic Herald |language=en-GB |archive-date=21 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021212524/https://catholicherald.co.uk/siegfried-sassoons-niece-hits-out-at-biopic-over-serious-misrepresentation-of-poets-catholic-faith/ |url-status=live }}

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