Movie – One Life and the Quality of Responsibility
In Prague in 1938, a young stockbroker sees the plight of refugee children and makes it his own cause. The film shows what responsibility means without an office and without applause.
“One Life” is the feature film debut of director James Hawes. The film premiered in Toronto in September 2023 and opened in German cinemas on 28 March 2024. Anthony Hopkins and Johnny Flynn play the Briton Nicholas Winton at two stages of his life. It is based on the book by his daughter Barbara Winton; what is described here is mainly the portrayal in the film. It shows the Quality of Responsibility: the person in charge is the one who looks and acts.
A golden bridge spans a gap between two banks while small white dots cross to the bright side – like the rescued children in “One Life”.
01
Looking and making it your own cause
Situation
In 1938, the 29-year-old London stockbroker Winton travels to Prague. He meets Doreen Warriner of the British refugee committee and sees the situation of the families in the camps. He decides to bring children at risk to England.
Link to the quality
Responsibility does not begin with an office. Winton has no mandate; he takes the initiative. You recognise leaders by the fact that, faced with a problem, they do not first ask whose job it is.
02
Doing the tedious work
Situation
Winton fights his way through the bureaucracy. Supported by his mother Babi, he obtains visas, collects donations and looks for foster families. Historically, the authorities required a foster family and a guarantee of 50 pounds for every child.
Link to the quality
Responsibility shows in the small print. Whoever takes on a cause also deals with forms, lists and begging letters. Good leadership does not simply pass on the uncomfortable parts of a task.
03
Acting even though it is not enough for everyone
Situation
The film names 669 mostly Jewish children who were rescued before the war began. The transport of 1 September 1939 with 250 children is also historically documented. Because of the outbreak of war it never departed; only two of those children survived.
Link to the quality
Whoever bears responsibility rarely achieves everything. What matters is to act anyway instead of waiting for the complete solution. Leaders should choose speed when a window of time is closing.
04
Fifty years without an audience
Situation
In 1988, the 79-year-old Winton clears out his study. He comes across his old scrapbook with photos and lists of the children. For decades his deed was hardly known. He considers where the documents might be of use.
Link to the quality
Responsibility needs no audience. Whoever acts only for recognition stops as soon as it fails to come. For leaders this is a good test: would I do it even if nobody ever found out?
05
The impact becomes visible
Situation
The documents reach the BBC programme “That’s Life!”. Presenter Esther Rantzen surprises Winton in the studio: sitting next to him are people he rescued as children. In a further programme, even more of those rescued make themselves known. The closing credits name more than 6,000 people who are alive thanks to the rescue.
Link to the quality
The impact of responsible action often only shows late. Leadership also works for results it never sees itself. This thought helps you persevere when nothing comes back in the short term.
Key takeaways
Key lessons
01
Do not ask whose job it is when you can help.
02
Do the tedious parts of a task yourself as well.
03
Act in time, even if the solution remains incomplete.
04
Do the right thing without waiting for recognition.
05
Expect your impact to become visible only late.
Summary
The film tells of a man without a mandate who takes responsibility for other people’s children. He combines initiative with patient, painstaking work and acts under time pressure. Decades later it becomes visible how many lives came out of it. Responsibility means seeing a cause through to the end, even when nobody is watching.
