THE story of Nicholas Winton, a man who helped to rescue hundreds of Jewish children from Czechoslovakia on the eve of the Second World War, is told in the film One Life, starring Anthony Hopkins as Winton in later life and Johnny Flynn as the young stockbroker and humanitarian. The film is the most popular for Moviola screenings in April.

The pre-war exploits of Sir Nicholas George Winton (1909 to 2015), sometimes known as “the British Schindler”, were largely unknown and unrecognised until he 1988 when he was invited onto the BBC television programme where he was reunited with dozens of the children he had helped to bring to Britain and was introduced to many of their children and grandchildren.

In 2003, Winton was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for “services to humanity, in saving Jewish children from Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia.” In 2014, he was awarded the highest honour of the Czech Republic, the Order of the White Lion (1st class). He died in 2015, aged 106

Born to German-Jewish parents who had immigrated to Britain at the beginning of the 20th century, Winton assisted in the rescue of 669 children, most of them Jewish, from Czechoslovakia on the eve of World War II. On a brief visit to Czechoslovakia, he helped compile a list of children needing rescue and, returning to Britain, he worked to fulfill the legal requirements of bringing the children to Britain and finding homes and sponsors for them.

This moving story is on screen at Bourton, Codford St Peter (Woolstore Theatre), Westbury-sub-Mendip, West Lydford, Fawley (Jubilee hall), Hawkchurch, Shrewton, Trent near Sherborne, Wookey Hole, Hythe, (Parish Hall), Caine (Town Hall), Warminnster (Civic Centre), Cheddonn & West Monkton, Clayhidon, Ditcheat (Jubilee hall), Crowcombe, Edington (Somerset), Royal Wootton Bassett (RWB Academy), Halstock, East Knoyle and Bishopstone (near Salisbury).

For more information and timings of this and the other April films, visit www.moviola.org – for dates and venues see the Arts Diary.

Another popular April film is the enchanting Wonka starring Timothee Chalamet as the young chocolate genius, facing the unscrupulous power of the evil Paris chocolate cartel. It’s as pretty as a picture – see it at Hawkchurch, Yetminster (Jubilee hall), Charlton Marshall, Huish Champflower, Bransgore, Watchet (cinema), Sixpenny Handley and Castle Cary (Caryford Hall).

A starry cast including Dame Maggie Smith and Laura Linney is the big draw in the The Miracle Club, about a group of women going to Lourdes. Moviola is showing it at Kingston St Mary, Beaminster (Public Hall), Chilthorne Domer, Charlton Marshall, Chard (Guildhall), Frogham, Rode, Winterslow and Norton Fitzwarren.

Other April films are:
The Great Escaper at Winsford, North Pethrton, Odcombe and Hardington Mandeville;
A Haunting in Venice at Somerton (Public Rooms), Watchet (cinema) and Norton St Philip’
Scrapper at Highcliffe (community centre), Nether Wallop and Motcombe;
Napoleon at Crowcombe, Hanging Langford, Nunney and Marnhull;
Double Indemnity (80th anniversary screening) – Donhead St Mary;
Past Lives at South Petherton (David Hall) and Martock (Parish Hall);
Oppenheimer at Shepton Montague, Membury (Devon) and Bothenhampton.

Pictured: One Life and Wonka.