Since I've watched "To the Wonder" back in 2013, I've been deeply fascinated with the career of one Terrence Malick. He has now brought us the wonderful "A Hidden Life".
Based on real events; August Diehl (Inglourious Basterds) stars as Franz Jägerstätter, an Austrian farmer whose tranquil life with his family was fractured by him being drafted to fight for the Nazis in World War Two. We're taken on his journey as he must stand by his religious beliefs and moral opposition to them, and his family faces persecution from fellow neighbors of their tight-knit village. On that note, the Catholic beliefs of him and his wife are highlighted in a positive light in this story, which is perfectly welcome.
The technical aspects of this movie are grade A+; the immersive cinematography, score and immaculate sound design. One can see this film having elements of a few of Malick's previous films; the rural landscapes of "Days of Heaven", the World War Two setting of "The Thin Red Line", and beautiful yet bittersweet family dynamics ("The Tree of Life").
If you're not a fan of Terrence Malick, then this probably won't do much for you. If you are or have enjoyed any of his previous films, then definitely give this a shot. For my two cents, this is his best film since "The Tree of Life".
Grade- A
Based on real events; August Diehl (Inglourious Basterds) stars as Franz Jägerstätter, an Austrian farmer whose tranquil life with his family was fractured by him being drafted to fight for the Nazis in World War Two. We're taken on his journey as he must stand by his religious beliefs and moral opposition to them, and his family faces persecution from fellow neighbors of their tight-knit village. On that note, the Catholic beliefs of him and his wife are highlighted in a positive light in this story, which is perfectly welcome.
The technical aspects of this movie are grade A+; the immersive cinematography, score and immaculate sound design. One can see this film having elements of a few of Malick's previous films; the rural landscapes of "Days of Heaven", the World War Two setting of "The Thin Red Line", and beautiful yet bittersweet family dynamics ("The Tree of Life").
If you're not a fan of Terrence Malick, then this probably won't do much for you. If you are or have enjoyed any of his previous films, then definitely give this a shot. For my two cents, this is his best film since "The Tree of Life".
Grade- A