Never Look Away
Review by Myla Tosatto
The first third of the movie Never Look Away is about the atrocities of war. Specifically, how World War II is felt by our young German protagonist, Kurt Barnert (played as a child by Cai Cohrs and as an adolescent by Oskar Müller). The next third of the film is a love story between the adult Kurt (Tom Schilling) and Ellie Seeband (Paula Beer). The last third is about Kurt finally finding himself through his art by embracing his past. It’s a beautiful way to tell Kurt’s story. It makes the running time of three hours and nine minutes float effortlessly by. If you have seen the movie check out our Never Look Away Quotes from the movie.
All of Never Look Away is gorgeous; easily one of the most sumptuous movies of 2018. Everything about the movie from its costumes, score, set decoration, and cinematography is meant to please even when the subject manner can be alarming (we are talking about Nazis here). It’s easy to see why the Academy nominated it for Best Foreign Language Film of the Year. It does what a good Oscar movie should do. It makes you think and feel. And you will be left thinking about the movie long after you leave the theater.
As Kurt says while explaining his art, “Everything that is true is beautiful.” Writer/Director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck has made me a believer in those words. At least as far as Never Look Away goes.
Never Look Away is NOW playing in theaters!