British author J.R.R Tolkien was never very interested in revealing too much of his personal life while he was alive, but new biopic Tolkien directed by Dome Kurukoski takes an earnest and respectful look at the fantasy author’s formative years, including his time at school and the strong fellowship of friends he made there, as well as his harrowing time fighting in World War I, and his relationship to long time love Edith Bratt, all which set the young Tolkien on his path to writing his acclaimed novels The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.  

HFPA member Katherine Tulich spoke to the film’s stars, Nicholas Hoult and Lily Collins for this video report.