- What: Never Look Away
- Who: Directed by Florian Henckel von Dorresmarck. Stars Tom Schilling Paula Beers and Sebastian Koch
- Rated: R
- Running time: 180 minutes
- When: Opens this Friday
- Where: Cedar Lee Theatre Cleveland Heights.
- Grade: A+
I would be willing to rank Never Look Away among my top five films of all time.
Donnersmarck is an amazing talent and he brings all of it to bear here in a movie that includes themes of love and hate, war and peace, art and commerce, God and Man. It’s quite the overarching thematic package. It’s the movie about everything, and the director (who also wrote the script) pulls it off with aplomb.
The three principle actors Tom Schilling, Paula Beer and Sebastian Koch are all wonderful.
The story is about how deeds committed during World War II come back to haunt the lives of two families. It’s also about how Schilling’s character struggles to find his path as a modern artist in the 20th Century. It’s what’s commonly called a “sweeping epic.” At a length of three hours and nine minutes, some might find this foreign film daunting. I was completely engrossed for every minute of it.
If you’re tired of the usual Hollywood fare down at the neighborhood multiplex, “Never Look Away” just might restore your faith in the power of truly great cinema storytelling.
