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A Hidden Life
2019 173 min Germany, United States of America PG-13 16+
★7.6
History, Drama, War
Director: Terrence Malick
Trailers
Description
Austrian farmer Franz Jägerstätter faces the threat of execution for refusing to fight for the Nazis during World War II.
Budget:
$9M
US Gross:
$1.73M
Worldwide:
$4.65M
Starring
August Diehl
Actor
Valerie Pachner
Actor
Maria Simon
Actor
Awards
Cannes Film Festival 2019
— François Chalais Prize
Cannes Film Festival 2019
— Ecumenical Jury Prize
Cannes Film Festival 2019
— Palme d'Or
Key opinion
A Hidden Life is a meditative and visually arresting portrait of historical conscience that polarizes audiences through its contemplative pacing and philosophical rigor. While many praise Terrence Malick’s return to a more narrative-focused structure and the film’s profound emotional depth, others find the three-hour runtime excessive and the atmospheric style repetitive.
| Cinematography | Jörg Widmer’s masterful, lyrical cinematography creates an immersive visual language that beautifully captures both the pastoral Alpine idyll and the stark reality of wartime persecution. | |
| Acting | August Diehl and Valerie Pachner deliver powerful, nuanced performances that anchor the film's philosophical inquiries in intimate human struggle and deep, enduring love. | |
| Theme | The film acts as a profound meditation on morality, faith, and the cost of non-conformity, successfully elevating the historical story of Franz Jägerstätter into a universal exploration of spiritual liberty. | |
| Runtime | The three-hour runtime is a point of contention; some viewers find the meditative, slow-paced structure essential to the emotional experience, while others perceive it as bloated and repetitive. |