Jeff Lubeck

If the story to be told is hidden, does it really exist? Can love, a way of life, and commitment to a foundational belief continue to exist if a requested compromise is made or denied?

The film, A Hidden Life Written and Directed by Terrance Malick (Days of Heaven, A Thin Red Line) examines those questions in a visually luscious and spiritually engaging manner.  The questions and the answers to them are relevant throughout human history.

The story in a Hidden Life is a true one. With Malick’s narrative, A Hidden Life is a film presenting life’s truths.

As with his other films, Malick presents elements of life on earth surrounding the story, at the time of the story.  The visuals of these elements make A Hidden Life feel whole and one with remarkable context.

The performances by the leads in the A Hidden Life, August Diehl (Salt, Inglorious Bastards), and Valerie Pachner are superb.

A Hidden Life is not a quick fix of escapism or a good fit for viewers with a short attention span or subject to time constraint – imagined or real. It builds ever so carefully, with purposeful pace to reveal, and continually reflect upon, what is at risk of being lost – and there is so much to lose.

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Jeff’s Worthless Trivia & Other Thoughts

St. Valentin Church in the town of St. Radegund, Austria.

In June 2007, Pope Benedict XVI issued an apostolic exhortation for Jägerstätter. On October 26th, 2007, he was beatified in a ceremony held by Cardinal José Saraiva Martins at the New Cathedral in Linz. His feast day is the day of his baptism, May 21st. Ironically, Pope Benedict XVI  (then Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger) lived at the same time on the Bavarian side of the Salzach River across from St. Radegund and Jägerstätter’s home.  Ratzinger visited St. Radegund often with his mother.

Historically, I really enjoy Malick’s style of film presentation – and A Hidden Life is no exception.  Unfortunately his reclusive nature – in level of work and personal nature – means there a large gaps in time between work products.

Malick usually takes an extraordinary amount of time in post-production.  A Hidden Life was filmed in 2016 and in post-production for almost three years.  It premiered in May 2019 at the Cannes Film Festival.  It won two awards at the festival (Prize of the Ecumenical Jury and François Chalais Prize) and placed 2nd to Parasite as Best Film (aka Palme d’Or).

A Hidden Life debuted (in limited release) at the end of December 2019 (for Oscar consideration).  The general release was the third week of January 2020.

A Hidden Life was the final film appearance for Bruno Ganz (Boys from Brazil, Wings of  Desire, Downfall, The Reader). Ganz’ performance in Downfall (AAN FF) as Adolf Hitler is one of the very best I have witnessed in my life.

A Hidden Life was the final film appearance for Michael Nyquist (The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo, John Wick, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol).

After a few minutes in to the film Jojo Rabbit any viewer will be excused if they wonder out loud – “what they hell am I watching, and where is this movie going to go?”  Viewers may also be excused if they ask out loud “Is Taika Waititi a Pen Name now being used by Wes Anderson?”

If you are a Marvel Franchise fan, then you know that Writer\Director\Actor Waititi is the voice of Krug for Avengers, Thor, and What If.

Jojo Rabbit is silly, comically self-aware, and works for the most part. Jojo Rabbit is highly original, although Waititi’s screenplay is derived from Christine Leunens Novel Caging Sky.

Jojo Rabbit is set Nazi Germany as the end of WWII in the European Theater approaches.  The foundation and story-line is great for any film: the dilemmas currently confronting a 10 year-old boy, a mom who has to raise a young boy and hold down a demanding job while the father is out of town, and the challenge both experience with a problematic house guest.

The costumes and sets for Jojo Rabbit pull you completely into 1940’s Europe.  The dialog is most definitely 21st Century America – which has to be deliberate .  The relationship and dialog between Jojo and his imaginary friend are worth their weight in gold.

The satire of Jojo Rabbit is at its biting best in the first two acts.  The final act is more conventional for reasons that become obvious.  It is this change that while not a failure, makes JoJo Rabbit seem less original and bold.

Jeff’s Worthless Trivia & Other Thoughts

Scarlett Johansson as Rosie Betzler is terrific.  Johansson’s performance demonstrates that yet again there is probably not a role beyond her abilities.

Thomasin McKenzie as Elsa Korr (the House Guest) suggests that she might be the next new Chameleon like Actress from the Down Under Region (New Zealand in this case).  McKenzie is convincing as a European teenager.  She was outstanding as the capable teenager of the Pacific Northwest in the superb and otherwise underrated film Leave No Trace.

Comedy and satire placed at the periphery or center of  historically horrific events is always a tricky bargain.  Time heals. However, timing and the state of a society’s current sensibility can create a reversal.  Mel Brooks is a master at the navigation with Blazing Saddles and The Producers. Ironically, I think it would be hard to make Blazing Saddles in today’s environment.