1953. A London shattered by WWII is still recovering. Williams (Bill Nighy), a veteran civil servant, is an important cog within the city’s bureaucracy as it struggles to rebuild. Buried under paperwork at the office, lonely at home, his life has long felt empty and meaningless. Then a shattering medical diagnosis forces him to take stock – and to try and grasp fulfilment before it goes beyond reach. At a seaside resort, chaperoned by a local decadent (Tom Burke), he flirts with hedonism before rejecting it as his solution. Back in London, he finds himself drawn to the natural vitality of Margaret (Aimee Lou Wood), a young woman who once worked under his supervision and is now determined to spread her wings. Then one evening he is struck by a revelation – one as simple as it is profound – and with a new energy, and the help of Peter (Alex Sharp), an idealistic new recruit to his department, he sets about creating a legacy for the next generation.
Reviews:
It is a little cold at first but you know, when it opens up, I cried, and I have no shame about that. WXIX-TV (Cincinnati, OH)
A little movie about big topics, Living takes on nothing less than life itself and features a quiet, note-perfect performance from Bill Nighy. Detroit News
Living is even further removed from the The Death of Ivan Ilyich than Kurosawa’s film. It is even smaller and more intimate, and much of its suppressed wonder comes from a career-best performance from Nighy. Austin Chronicle
Hermanus’ film is as reserved as its main character. It draws us in by viewing Williams at a respectful remove, in the same way a whisper encourages us to lean in to hear. Minneapolis Star Tribune
What I appreciate about this movie is how it’s really about inertia… and it doesn’t pretend inertia is easy to defeat. FilmWeek (KPCC – NPR Los Angeles)
The quietly powerful Living defies expectations at every turn. Baltimore Magazine
