--- title: "A Matter of Life and Death: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/a-matter-of-life-and-death/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/a-matter-of-life-and-death" critics_score: 88 critics_reviews: 7 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # A Matter of Life and Death (1946): what the critics said Critics' score 88 from 7 reviews: 6 positive, 0 mixed, 1 negative. Most critics warmly praise Powell and Pressburger’s romantic fantasy, with agreement strongest on its visual invention and its treatment of love and war’s human cost. The contrast between Technicolor Earth and black-and-white heaven draws repeated admiration, alongside the otherworldly sets, special effects and theatrical staging. The reviews also value the humour and charm of the performances, finding that the romance gives warmth to the film’s political questions about Britain, America and their relationship. Reservations concern how insistently the film explains its ideas, rather than any lack of ambition. The Playlist finds some parallels heavy-handed but remains enthusiastic; Variety offers the sharp dissent, judging the promising opening to give way to excessive talk, pretension and insufficient humanity. The spread is therefore wide, though the disagreement is concentrated: most critics find feeling and wit in the same elaborate fantasy that the negative review regards as too intellectual. ## Radio Times — David Parkinson Rating 5/5. The critic states that Powell and Pressburger marry theatrical stylisation with thematic purpose to perfection in this dazzling fantasy. It highlights the barbed political allegory questioning Allied ties and Britain’s world status, along with the film’s visual audacity and mannered playing. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-j8s6xo/a-matter-of-life-and-death/) ## The Times — Ed Potton Rating ★★★★★. 5 October 2018. The review hails the restored classic as outlandishly humane, celebrating its spirit of love, pacifism and international fraternity through luminous Technicolor photography and strong performances. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/uk/defence/article/classic-film-a-matter-of-life-and-death-1946-2ckvs9g06) ## Time Out — Dave Calhoun Rating 5/5. 23 September 2008. The critic notes that the film’s origins as a Ministry of Information propaganda piece celebrating Anglo-American relations are not obvious until the final trial scene. It praises the central conceit of the black-and-white heaven versus Technicolor earth and the way the celestial court sequence conveys the emotional weight of six years of war. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/a-matter-of-life-and-death-1) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 21 April 1995. Ebert calls the film one of the most audacious ever made for its grandiose yet cozy vision and technical invention. He singles out the spectacular heavenly amphitheater and effects like the rose-petal tear as standout elements. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/stairway-to-heaven-a-matter-of-life-and-death-1995) ## Variety — Variety Staff Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 31 December 1945. The review finds the picture overly intellectual and pretentious, with too much talk after a promising start and insufficient humanity. It notes the experimental designs for the other world but deems them a matter of taste. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1945/film/reviews/a-matter-of-life-and-death-1200414813/) ## Empire — Emma Cochrane 1 January 2000. Powell and Pressburger's 1946 fable has aged well into a genuine classic with humour and heart that rewards repeat viewings. The critic highlights its universal themes of war's human cost and the inventive black-and-white heaven versus Technicolor earth contrast. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/matter-life-death-review/) ## Slant Magazine — Eric Henderson 3 October 2018. The critic highlights the film's slippery boundary between fantasy and reality, its striking use of Technicolor on Earth contrasting with black-and-white heaven, and its optimistic post-WWII message about love transcending borders. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/dvd/a-matter-of-life-and-death/) ## The AV Club — Keith Phipps 29 March 2002. The critic commends the film's ambitious mix of romance, fantasy, and celestial debate, praising its inventive visuals of colorful Earth versus stark heaven and charming performances that make it an enjoyable, romantic work. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/stairway-to-heaven-1798195297) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw 8 December 2017. The critic praises Powell and Pressburger’s 1946 film as a visually extraordinary and politically topical romantic fantasia, highlighting its unique blend of earthly romance and celestial bureaucracy amid the special relationship between Britain and America. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/dec/08/matter-life-death-review-re-release-powell-pressburger-david-niven-fighter-pilot) ## The Playlist — The Playlist Staff Rating A+. 19 March 2013. Praises it as arguably their greatest achievement, magnificent, moving, romantic, original fantasy; profound with ideas about death, love, etc., but wildly entertaining. Singles out the script, lensing, production design. Minor complaint about heavy-handed parallels. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/the-films-of-powell-pressburger-a-retrospective-20130319/4/) ## Collider — Craig Jones Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 16 February 2025. The critic calls the film a masterly rival to It’s a Wonderful Life and a prime example of post-war optimism, praising its powerful storytelling, innovative use of color versus monochrome, and emphasis on justice, fairness, and the common man. [Read the review](https://collider.com/a-matter-of-life-and-death-movie/) ## Eye for Film — Scott Macdonald 23 December 2006. The critic calls it one of the best films ever made, praising its style, wit, special effects, cinematography, and the team's command of craft. Singles out the heavenly scenes and Technicolor for praise. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/a-matter-of-life-and-death-film-review-by-scott-macdonald) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/a-matter-of-life-and-death.md