How I Live Now

Set against the backdrop of an impending world war, the 2013 movie How I Live Now closely follows the life of Elizabeth 'Daisy' (Saoirse Ronan), an American teenager who gets sent away to live with her eccentric relatives in rural England while the specter of a global conflict looms large. The film is an engaging amalgamation of drama, romance, and thriller genres and examines how Daisy, a city girl unfamiliar with the simplicity of the English countryside, finds unlikely love and purpose in an environment turned hostile by the advent of war.

Daisy, an angst-ridden teenager, uncomfortable with her new rural surroundings and the short-tempered company of her British cousins Edmond, Isaac, and Piper portrayed by George MacKay, Tom Holland, and Harley Bird respectively, reluctantly transitions into the rustic life. Daisy's original plans are disrupted when her aunt, played by Anna Chancellor, is called away on an emergency work trip, leaving Daisy and her cousins unsupervised in their secluded rural setting. The isolation brings Daisy and Edmond mischievously close despite her initial reluctance, sparking off a delicate love affair with its quintessential youthful energy.

However, their summer romance is abruptly interrupted as war breaks out, turning their paradisal world into a dystopian nightmare overnight. The initially naïve outlook of Daisy on her new environment dramatically shifts as chaos, despair, and compromise in their daily life become the new norms. The storyline captures a vivid transition from a seemingly idyllic life, teetering on the edge of adolescence to the harsh realities of a world in chaos, seen through the lens of the young and the innocent.

The film explores trauma and survival, delineating the path Daisy and her young cousin Piper must traverse once they get separated from the boys into working slave labor camps. Struggling against hopelessness, fear, and hard circumstances, the girls decide to escape, commencing a perilous journey back to their home through a war-torn landscape. All the while, Daisy is driven by the undying hope to be reunited with Edmond.

How I Live Now superbly packages romance and war drama to expound on the themes of survival, resilience, and unyielding hope amidst adversity, brilliantly accentuated by an unforgettable performance from Saoirse Ronan. Meg Rosoff's novel upon which the movie bases itself provides a compelling premise that the director Kevin Macdonald exploits fully to deliver high-intensity drama through the film.

George MacKay, playing the role of sensitive Edmond, impressively compliments Ronan's dramatic acting, reflecting the movie's underlying theme of finding love and tranquility amidst chaos. An equally eye-catching performance by Tom Holland brings the complexity of a child's view of the war into focus.

Aside from the quintessential actors' performance, the aesthetics of the film exceptionally contribute to its overall feel. The cinematography plays an interesting role throughout the movie, transforming the tranquil English countryside into a war-ravaged, discordant set-up. Depicting the plight of its central characters against the sprawling landscapes, the film visually distinguishes between Daisy's earlier urban existence and her survival in the hostile facets of the English countryside.

The movie explores the grim nature of war from the pivotal perspective of young minds, looking at how the sudden intrusion of violence changes their lives forever. It characterizes war not just as a violent, political affair, but as a force disrupting innocent lives, seeping gloom into the seemingly simple, pastoral world of children.

While it’s an undoubtedly intense movie, How I Live Now doesn't lose sight of the human capability to bounce back and exhibit endurance in situations of the extreme. Whether it be through Daisy's courageous journey against odds or through the unabated hope surrounding her reunion with Edmond, the film underlines the undying spirit of survival.

Emotionally striking and visually compelling, How I Live Now ingeniously uses the setting of war to trace a poignant, coming-of-age journey and portrays the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. This drama-thriller constantly keeps its audience on the edge, captivating them with gripping narration, intense sequences, and stellar performances from its ensemble cast.