"You needlessly sacrifice, no one will know about your protest."
There are many who try to get Franz Jägerstätter to do just the simple thing, to swear Hitler fidelity, then he will go free, and can return to wife and children. But he does not give up, denies death.
American director Terrence Malick was cult-declared and received legendary status after only two films in the 1970s, Badlands and Days of heaven. After that, he took a hearty break until 1998 when the suggestive war movie The Thin Red Line told us that Malick was back in good old form. For the last ten years, the cinematic slumber has gained steam but ... to put it bluntly: content has not always matched the high pretensions.
But now they do. And yet the pretensions are at the top of this reality-based story of a farmer who, during the Second World War, is not drawn into the nationalist moods in his hometown, which causes him to have problems with his peers first, then - when called in - with the military.
Think Sound of music without singing but with a hefty dose of moral-philosophical pondering that feels just right these days when despots rule the world. This is a movie about daring to say no! when one's ethical gut feeling does just that. To follow one's conscience.
No, it's not an unusual theme. Slightly annoying challenge. It is usually marketed in lots and minutes, not infrequently by men and women in superhero costumes, but Terrence Malick goes (obviously) deeper, showing that it is not so easy to live up to that seemingly simple credo.
In addition, we see a god-blessed picture-making that will want to book a single ticket to the Alps, and a low-intensity dazzling acting from the lead actors August Diehl and Valerie Pachner. After all, movies that try to capture true love go thirteen on the dozen, usually a few trips in sweaty binge. You get tired, stooped. But here, without sex, but with a phenomenal experience, I believe in every breath, every touch, to the extent that I surprise myself.
When wife Fani shouts towards the end when she sees Franz for the first time in a long time, this old stone pillar jumps as well. When she later collapses on the path, I get to pinch my thigh so as not to unprofessionally start splashing tears over my colleagues.
Well, it's probably Valerie Pachner who pulls the biggest load, she has the traditionally ungrateful role of mourning, abusive wife, but gives it full life here, more than that, which, well, the scriptwriter Malick should have some credit for.
Speaking thankfully: The sadly departed Michael Nyqvist made one of his last films with A hidden life. However, he is only present for about a minute, as a bishop, one of those who dare not stand up for Franz and justice. German actor Bruno Ganz also recently passed away, but figures here about as short as Nyqvist. Not much to say about it, even great actors get cut off, but a bit of a shame nonetheless.
It is instead the relatively unknown ones that radiate here. Which in and of itself feels perfectly okay in a movie that pays tribute to those who fight in the hidden, those who seem unseen, and only with the small means and perseverance, the world changes. Although everyone around says that is no idea.