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A Hidden Life

  • 20192019
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 2h 54m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
23K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,010
268
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
A Hidden Life (2019)
Watch {VideoTitle}
Play trailer1:01
8 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Biography
  • Drama
  • Romance

The Austrian Franz Jägerstätter, a conscientious objector, refuses to fight for the Nazis in World War II.The Austrian Franz Jägerstätter, a conscientious objector, refuses to fight for the Nazis in World War II.The Austrian Franz Jägerstätter, a conscientious objector, refuses to fight for the Nazis in World War II.

IMDb RATING
7.4/10
23K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,010
268
  • Director
    • Terrence Malick
  • Writer
    • Terrence Malick
  • Stars
    • August Diehl
    • Valerie Pachner
    • Maria Simon
Top credits
  • Director
    • Terrence Malick
  • Writer
    • Terrence Malick
  • Stars
    • August Diehl
    • Valerie Pachner
    • Maria Simon
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 255User reviews
    • 234Critic reviews
    • 78Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 10 wins & 32 nominations

    Videos8

    In Select Theaters Now
    Trailer 1:01
    In Select Theaters Now
    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:12
    Official Trailer
    A Hidden Life
    Trailer 2:12
    A Hidden Life
    A Hidden Life
    Trailer 2:20
    A Hidden Life
    A Guide to the Films of Terrence Malick
    Clip 2:31
    A Guide to the Films of Terrence Malick
    A Hidden Life
    Clip 1:25
    A Hidden Life
    A Hidden Life
    Clip 1:14
    A Hidden Life
    A Hidden Life
    Clip 1:07
    A Hidden Life

    Photos363

    Sand Van Roy at an event for A Hidden Life (2019)
    Huma Qureshi at an event for A Hidden Life (2019)
    A Hidden Life (2019)
    A Hidden Life (2019)
    A Hidden Life (2019)
    A Hidden Life (2019)
    A Hidden Life (2019)
    A Hidden Life (2019)
    A Hidden Life (2019)
    August Diehl in A Hidden Life (2019)
    August Diehl in A Hidden Life (2019)
    August Diehl in A Hidden Life (2019)

    Top cast

    Edit
    August Diehl
    August Diehl
    • Franz Jägerstätteras Franz Jägerstätter
    Valerie Pachner
    Valerie Pachner
    • Fani Jägerstätteras Fani Jägerstätter
    Maria Simon
    Maria Simon
    • Resie Schwaningeras Resie Schwaninger
    Karin Neuhäuser
    • Rosalia Jägerstätteras Rosalia Jägerstätter
    Tobias Moretti
    Tobias Moretti
    • Fr. Fürthaueras Fr. Fürthauer
    Ulrich Matthes
    Ulrich Matthes
    • Lorenz Schwaningeras Lorenz Schwaninger
    Matthias Schoenaerts
    Matthias Schoenaerts
    • Captain Herderas Captain Herder
    Franz Rogowski
    Franz Rogowski
    • Waldlandas Waldland
    Karl Markovics
    Karl Markovics
    • Mayor Krausas Mayor Kraus
    • (as Karl Marvocics)
    Bruno Ganz
    Bruno Ganz
    • Judge Luebenas Judge Lueben
    Michael Nyqvist
    Michael Nyqvist
    • Bishop Fliesseras Bishop Fliesser
    Wolfgang Michael
    Wolfgang Michael
    • Eckingeras Eckinger
    Johannes Krisch
    Johannes Krisch
    • Trakl, the Milleras Trakl, the Miller
    Johan Leysen
    Johan Leysen
    • Ohlendorf, the Painteras Ohlendorf, the Painter
    Martin Wuttke
    Martin Wuttke
    • Major Kielas Major Kiel
    Waldemar Kobus
    Waldemar Kobus
    • Warder Steinas Warder Stein
    Sophie Rois
    Sophie Rois
    • Aunt Walburgaas Aunt Walburga
    Alexander Fehling
    Alexander Fehling
    • Lawyer Feldmanas Lawyer Feldman
    • Director
      • Terrence Malick
    • Writer
      • Terrence Malick
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Based on real events, A Hidden Life is the story of an unsung hero, Bl. Franz Jägerstätter, who refused to fight for the Nazis in World War II. When the Austrian peasant farmer is faced with the threat of execution for treason, it is his unwavering faith and his love for his wife, Fani, and children that keeps his spirit alive. —Anonymous
    • world war two
    • anti nazism
    • nazi
    • death penalty
    • third reich
    • 186 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Genres
      • Biography
      • Drama
      • Romance
      • War
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated PG-13 for thematic material including violent images.
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Terrence Malick spent almost three years editing this film.
    • Quotes

      Closing Title Card: ...the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts; and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been, is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs. -George Eliot

    • Crazy credits
      The title card at the end of the picture comes from the final sentence of George Eliot's "Middlemarch".
    • Connections
      Featured in Amanda the Jedi Show: 'Faster than your First Time' Reviews (Joker, Jojo Rabbit, Lucy in the Sky and everything else) (2019)
    • Soundtracks
      St Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Kommt, ihr Töchter
      Written by Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performed by Bach-Collegium Stuttgart (as Bach Collegium Stuttgart) and Gächinger Kantorei (as Gächinger Kantorei Stuttgart) with Helmuth Rilling

      Courtesy of Sony Music Entertainment (Germany) GmbH

      By arrangement with Sony Music Entertainment

    User reviews255

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Malick on faith
    Greetings again from the darkness. With a title pulled from a line in George Eliot's "Middlemarch", enigmatic filmmaker Terrence Malick continues his deep probe into humanity and faith ... recurring themes in most of his films, and especially the run that began with his excellent THE TREE OF LIFE (2012). This current film is easily his most accessible over that period as it focuses on the (mostly) true story of Austrian WWII conscientious objector Franz Jagerstatter.

    The film opens with contrasting images: a black screen with sounds of nature fading to a bucolic Austrian Alps village versus dramatic historical clips of Hitler (I believe from Leni Reifenstahl's 1935 Nazi propaganda film TRIUMPH OF THE WILL). The rural farming village we see is Sankt Radegund, the idyllic community where Franz Jagerstatter (played by August Diehl, INGLORIOUS BASTERDS) lives off the land with his wife Franziska "Fani" (played by Valerie Pachner) and their three young daughters. It's a family bonded by love. The family and fellow villagers go about the rigors of daily life as the war spreads. In 1940, Franz is sent to Enns Military base for training, and is then returned to his village under a farming exemption.

    What follows is a first half filled with dread as Franz struggles with his own beliefs in a new world order that has no room for individual thought. He refuses to swear an oath to Hitler, despite the rest of the villagers doing so. He knows what this means, as does his wife. As Franz refuses the "Heil Hitler", he is described as being something worse than an enemy - a traitor. He holds firmly to his principles ... vague to us, yet crystal clear to him. He becomes a pariah in his own village, as even the priest urges him to relent by stating he has "a duty to the fatherland."

    "Don't they know evil when they see it?" Franz asks the question we have all been asking since Hitler came to power. When he is called to duty in 1943, Franz and Fani know the eventual outcome. Franz is asked by many, and in various ways, "What purpose does it serve?" No one can make sense of his stand. As he is imprisoned at Tegel Prison, solicitors played by Matthias Schoenaerts and Alexander Fehling both try to convince him to pledge loyalty and save his life. Franz's response is, "I can't do what I know is wrong."

    With the first half being filled with dread and anxiety, the second half is all about the suffering. Franz is locked away with very little access to the nature or family he holds so dear, while Fani is a village outcast, trying desperately to raise their daughters and put food in their mouths. They are each in their own prison - isolated from the life they love. From Tegel Prison in 1943, Franz writes many letters to Fani. The letters are philosophy mixed with hope and love, and provide the source of how his story was discovered many years ago.

    Anyone familiar with Malick's films know that each is a visual work of artistry. Instead of his usual cinematographer, 3-time Oscar winner Emmanuel Lubezki, this film features the camera work of Jorg Widmer (who assisted Lubezki on THE TREE OF LIFE). The film lives up to our expectations, especially in capturing the vitality and spirit of nature through lush landscapes, mountains, trees, grasses, gardens, streams, rivers, and a waterfall. The family is one with nature, which stands in stark contrast to Franz inside the cold prison walls. Composer James Newton Howard brilliantly uses a lone violin, as well as a mixture of classical music. This was the final film for two extraordinary actors who recently passed away. Michael Nyqvist plays the Bishop who tells Franz that if God gave us free will, then we are responsible for what we do and what we don't do. Bruno Ganz plays the head judge on the committee that decides Franz's fate.

    We could describe the film as either a tragic love story or an ode to faith and principles. Both fit, and yet both fall short. Terrence Malick is a confounding and brilliant and artistic filmmaker. After his breakthrough film DAYS OF HEAVEN (1978), he took a 20 year hiatus before filming THE THIN RED LINE (his other WWII film). Recently he has proven much more productive, yet he remains a meticulous craftsman - taking three years to edit this film. His visual style is quite unique, yet he has the skill to make a messenger's bicycle bell send chills. He was able to meet Franz's surviving daughters (now in their 80's) prior to filming, as they still live near this village. We are quite fortunate that this exquisite filmmaker is allowing us to tag along on his search for the meaning of life and his exploration of faith ... just make sure you set aside 3 hours for the lesson.
    helpful•56
    24
    • ferguson-6
    • Dec 19, 2019

    FAQ2

    • Was "A Hidden Life" not released in time to qualify for nominations at the 2020 Oscars?
    • Does anyone know where the beautifully ornate church is located in?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 17, 2020 (United Kingdom)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • United Kingdom
      • Germany
    • Official sites
      • Fox Searchlight
      • MISTER SMITH ENTERTAINMENT
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
      • Italian
    • Also known as
      • Một Đời Ẩn Giấu
    • Filming locations
      • St. Radegund, Upper Austria, Austria
    • Production companies
      • Fox Searchlight Pictures
      • TSG Entertainment
      • Elizabeth Bay Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,730,597
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $50,383
      • Dec 15, 2019
    • Gross worldwide
      • $4,607,564
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 54 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Atmos
      • SDDS
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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    ‘Great Freedom’ Star Franz Rogowski Signs With CAA
    May 4Deadline Film + TV

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