Siegfried Sasson is one of the most well-known war poets after World War I. In the biopic drama Benediction, Sasson is traumatized from the Great War that influenced his poetry, while maintaining romantic affairs with homosexuality.

The cast includes Jack Lowden, Peter Capaldi, Simon Russell Beale, Jeremy Irvine, Calem Lynch, Tom Blyth, Kate Phillips, Geraldine James, Gemma Jones, and Ben Daniels. Terence Davies directed and wrote the movie.

Here is the official synopsis:

Written and directed by acclaimed filmmaker Terence Davies, Benediction explores the turbulent life of WWI poet Siegried 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.

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LRM Online’s Gig Patta talked with actors Jack Lowden and Jeremy Irvine about the real-life portrayals and romantic relationships in the film.

Jack Lowden graduated from the Scottish Royal Academy of Music and Drama. His breakthrough was with That National Theatre of Scotland’s production of Black Watch.  In 2014, he starred as Michael in the five-part drama series BBC’s The Passing Bells with Paddy Gibson. A couple of years later, he was seen in Andrew Davies’ adaptation of Leo Tolstoy’s War & Peace alongside Paul Dano, Lily James, and James Norton. Then he appeared in Christopher Nolan’s WWII action film Dunkirk as a fighter pilot in the historical dramatic tale. Also, he took the lead role of the Morrissey biopic England Is Mine with Jessica Brown Findlay. He starred in Fighting With My Family with Florence Pugh a wrestling biopic. Currently, he stars in the new Apple TV+ series Slow Horses based on Mick Herron’s books.

Jeremy Irvine made his feature film debut in Steven Spielberg’s War Horse which received best picture nominations for the 2012 Academy Awards and Golden Globes. He was seen as the younger version of Sam in Universal Pictures’ musical Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again. His other credits include Billionaire Boys Club, The Last Full Measure, and The Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death.

Benediction is in theaters today.

Watch the exclusive interview with Jeremy Irvine and Jack Lowden below. Let us know what you think of the interview.

Source: LRM Online Exclusive, Roadside Attractions