This drama documentary for cinema explores the pacifism that was such a powerful influence on composer Benjamin Britten's life and work. The story begins in 1929 at Gresham's School in Norfolk, England. Our young actors take us into a world where pupils are encouraged to address social and political issues and Benjamin Britten's hatred of all things militaristic is formed. Gresham's head of history explains that many of the boys in 1929 became communists, in part as a reaction to the threat of fascism. We see the young Donald Maclean, later to attain notoriety as one of the Cambridge spies, reading aloud from his strongly left wing short story. As we explore the music that illustrates Ben's growing pacifism, illustrated by performances and unique observations from experts and friends, we frequently return to these dramatic interludes at Gresham's, which cement the narrative - spoken by legendary actor John Hurt. It's clear that Ben has already decided that he will become a professional composer and that school and Music College are in a way obstacles to be got past in order to achieve that ambition. The contemporary performances of 'Oh My Blacke Soule' from the Holy Sonnets of John Donne and a section of the second string quartet illustrate Ben's anguish at having witnessed the horrors of Belsen, which profoundly influences his adoption of a 'pure' pacifism. The transcendent music of the War Requiem accompanies the climax of the film, before we return to Gresham's School 2012.