How I Live Now, directed by Kevin MacDonald, is based on the 2004 YA novel by Meg Rosoff. The book was Rosoff’s first novel,which she published at the age of 46 and was met by universal acclaim, winning several awards. Before the book was even published the rights to the film were bought and the first director attached to the project was Festen director Thomas Vinterberg. He wanted to cast a newcomer actress for the protagonist role of Daisy and chose Kristen Stewart but the project fell through and she went on to become the insipid Bella of the Twilight saga.

In the book and film, Daisy a 15 year old Manhattanite, is sent to live with her deceased mother’s family in England on the cusp of World War 3 breaking out. In the book the cousins that Daisy meets are Piper, twins Isaac and Edmond and older brother Osbert. MacDonald has made the love affair between Daisy and Edmond more palatable by making Edmond the older brother instead of a 14 year old and getting rid of Osbert all together. When asked at the Q & A after the screening that I attended, why she wrote Daisy and Edmond as cousins that have a relationship, Rosoff answered that she gets asked that a lot and she would have thought that a sexual relationship between a 14 and 15 year old might have been more controversial than the cousin thing.

The film starts with the children getting to know one another, the rough and tumble of idyllic childhood play in the countryside. But then a nuclear device is detonated in London, the children’s mother is in all probability dead after a trip to Geneva and the children are separated when the boys are taken to join the army and the girls are sent to live with an elderly couple. Edmond makes Daisy promise as they are being forced apart that she will try to get back to the farm. As much of the book is a narrative of Daisy’s thoughts and struggles during this time, MacDonald makes the movie about all the horrible things that happen during wartime. Neither book nor film tell you who the attackers are therefore not making it political and much of the unpleasantness the audience witnesses is perpetrated by fellow countrymen. The one thing that keeps Daisy and Piper struggling on is the belief that one day they will reunite with the boys.

The film is not your typical teen movie, the romance is not of the supernatural kind and the action not of the robotic kind. It’s tone is that of a post apocalyptic, youth-in-wartime peril saga. There are strong performances from the young cast led by Saoirse Ronan. It’s hard to know if it will appeal to an audience that has been fed a constant diet of Twilight, Hunger Games and The Mortal Instruments as this is a much more subtle movie. But any parents that are dragged along to the cinema might be very appreciative to see a movie that is striking against the new norm.

Review by LAW