BENEDICTION

 Terence Davies' last film, "Benediction" is thematically, and indeed in every other way, very definitely a Terence Davies Film, dealing as it does with the past, the effects of war, spirituality and, of course, homosexuality and like "A Quiet Passion" is a biography of a famous poet, in this case Siegfried Sassoon, beautifully played by both Jack Lowden and Peter Capaldi. Shooting both formally in widescreen and colour, Davies also uses newsreel to great effect but what really distinguishes this film is the sure and certain knowledge that no-one else could have made it. From the very beginning of his career Davies developed a style that was distinctly his own and which, on occasion, could alienate even his followers. His films can be painfully slow and even uninvolving and yet their beauty remains undiminished.

"Benediction" does feel like a late masterpiece. Davies clearly felt an affinity with Sassoon and this is a deeply moving film in which you can see aspects of Davies' own life; in making a biography of Sassoon, Davies has also made yet again another deeply autobiographical film. It may be a sad and at times self-critical film and yet it's one that doesn't lack humor.

The performances throughout are excellent, (even the late Julian Sands redeems himself here), and if the film does nothing else but send you in the direction of Sassoon's work then it will have done its job but then it is so much more than another literary biopic or another dose of Masterpiece Theatre. If it has a fault it's that Davies seems to be doing his best to keep us at arm's length as if to open up too much he might be exposing himself more than he might want to. Nevertheless what we have is more than sufficient and a fitting end to a great, if much too short, a career.