Review of A Hidden Life (2019) by Brent_Marchant — 28 Dec 2019

While writer-director Terrence Malick's stream of consciousness style of filmmaking may not be for everyone, he certainly presents his best example of this kind of work in his latest offering, "A Hidden Life.

" As with nearly all of his pictures (which are known for including beautiful imagery for its own sake and not necessarily as a means for moving the story), this release could definitely use some editing, considering its nearly three-hour runtime.

However, given that this fact-based film features a more narrative-driven focus than some of his other works, that change, coupled with his signature style, make for a moving combination, one that's both touching and beautiful to look at simultaneously.

August Diehl and Valerie Pachner give quietly impassioned performances as protagonists wrestling with crises of conscience in World War II Austria, set against the beauty of their native countryside and the ugliness of Adolf Hitler's Nazi regime.

Admittedly, this picture may try the patience of even the most diehard moviegoer, but it's worth sitting through even the slow passages given the rewards on offer.