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Never Look Away
Werk ohne Autor
2018 188 min Germany, Italy, United States of America R 16+
★8.0
Drama, Romance, History
Director: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
Trailers
Description
German artist Kurt Barnert has escaped East Germany and now lives in West Germany, but is tormented by his childhood under the Nazis and the GDR regime.
Budget:
$18M
US Gross:
$1.3M
Worldwide:
$4.83M
Starring
Tom Schilling
Actor
Sebastian Koch
Actor
Paula Beer
Actor
Awards
Venice Film Festival 2018
— Leoncino d'Oro Award
Venice Film Festival 2018
— Arca CinemaGiovani Award – Best Film (Youth Jury)
Academy Awards 2019
— Best International Feature Film
Academy Awards 2019
— Best Cinematography
Venice Film Festival 2018
— Leoncino d'Oro Award
Venice Film Festival 2018
— Arca CinemaGiovani Award – Best Film (Youth Jury)
Key opinion
Never Look Away is widely praised as an emotionally resonant and visually stunning exploration of art, trauma, and identity across decades of German history. While some critics find its political metaphors heavy-handed or its narrative occasionally repetitive, the majority view it as an immersive, masterful achievement in storytelling and performance.
| Cinematography | The cinematography is masterfully detailed, creating a canvas-like aesthetic that consistently enhances the film's visual storytelling. | |
| Acting | The lead performances by Tom Schilling, Sebastian Koch, and Paula Beer are exceptional, grounding the complex historical drama in palpable, authentic emotion. | |
| Score | Max Richter's score is a standout element that effectively elevates the film's emotional and atmospheric weight. | |
| Runtime | The film's ambitious three-hour runtime is a point of contention; many find it an immersive experience that moves with purpose, while others perceive it as drawn out or exhausting. | |
| Screenplay | Critical reception to the screenplay is divided, with some praising its profound thematic exploration of art and truth, while others criticize its use of propagandistic clichés and lack of historical nuance. |