Kevin MacDonald, director of the acclaimed The Last King of Scotland (2006), successfully adapts the novel for young adults How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff, with which the British writer won the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize in 2004.

The filmmaker, known for his documentary facet (Oscar winner for Best Short Documentary for One Day in September, 1999) is true to his style and offers a product that bears no resemblance to other teen movies adapted from novels like Twilight (2008) and The Hunger Games (2013). MacDonald’s interesting proposal is able to entertain all audiences. The secret lies in a detailed staging along with the wonderful Saoirse Ronan (The Grand Hotel Budapest, with an Oscar nomination for Atonement) as the protagonist.

This apocalyptic romantic drama also features other young talents like Tom Holland (The Impossible) and George MacKay (Defiance). The film’s plot follows a young maniac surprised by the outbreak of World War II while on vacation in England with her four cousins who were hitherto virtually unknown to her.

The first half focuses on the demons of the teen, who is introverted and full of quirks, infatuated after meeting her cousin Eddie. But suddenly the great war breaks out and the film changes its tune. This young insecure girl must get rid of her fears to face true terror and fight for her and her little cousin’s survival, while searching for their relatives.

Release date in Spain: October 10th