During dark times of turmoil, division, and hatred, tales of courage and resilience inspire and uplift us. When morality has been corrupted in favor of falsehoods and degeneracy followed blindly by a loud and outspoken population, one’s strength in faith, beliefs, and virtues is put to the ultimate test. Having the intuition to know what is right and wrong in a time of adversity is either a heroic act or a death sentence. Regardless, standing up to the forces of evil via acts of pacifism, generosity, and hope while standing firm in faith are the makings of a martyr. Resisting evil, after all, is a component of the free will given to us by God, the ultimate judge of our character and actions. In essence, examining the strength of faith and convictions of one man and his wife who refused to bow down to evil is at the heart of Terrence Malick’s 2019 film A Hidden Life.
Somber, devastating, yet beautiful, Malick’s A Hidden Life is a purely cinematic experience that speaks to the heart and soul and will leave an everlasting impact on those who know the power of love. Based on true events, people, and letters exchanged between Franz Jägerstätter (played by August Diehl) and his wife Franziska (played by Valerie Pachner), A Hidden Life features purely cinematic techniques and aesthetics such as sublimely operatic and expressive cinematography capturing the majesty of Austrian landscapes, harmoniously melodic music composed by James Newton Howard, emotionally heartfelt and resonating performances, and last but not least a message of perseverance, truth, and love. A Hidden Life is a serene and meditative exploration of one of mankind’s darkest moments told through the point of view of a man who fought for what his heart told him was true.
A filmmaker who understands the visual power of cinematic language and expression, Malick’s style of filmmaking strays from the traditional narrative norm and character development to instead craft romanticized cinematic epics that rely on emotions and sentiment from a visual perspective. A Hidden Life is no exception as it continues Malick’s filmmaking style of heavenly transcendence. Watching A Hidden Life is akin to watching love letters unfold, love letters between Franz and Franziska embracing not only the love they share for one another but the love they share for their children and the land they call home. Instead of formulaic narrative scenes depicting the lives of the devoted husband and wife, poetic imagery, moods, and images of daily life are expressively crafted via Malick and cinematographer Jörg Widmer’s mobile and fluid aerobatic camera. Feelings and emotions, when not conveyed through words told through voice-over narration, another Malick trait, the state of mind of either Franz or Franziska is captured by the camera either by focusing on their faces or their actions. Moments of marital bliss and ecstasy are revealed as Franz and Franziska express their love for one another as they frolic, hand in hand, across endless green fields, suggesting that their love will never cease, despite their fate
During Franz’s absence, Franziska’s frustrations, hardships, and fear are visible as she struggles to tend to all of the farm and household duties on her lonesome followed by cries of longing for her unjustly persecuted husband. Despite being apart from Franziska in a prison far away from their once quaint simple life, Franz, a man of God, reassures Franziska that they are held together by the grace of God watching over them, even if their prayers appear to go unanswered. As their fellow neighbors and villagers turned against them, first by passive-aggressive gestures and remarks followed by physical acts of violence, simultaneously as Franz endures torture and humiliation in prison, the passion, desire, and longing for one another kept Franz and Franziska alive until their souls would reunite in another life.
Malick’s visual mastery and understanding of cinematic techniques are not only evident in his cinematography but also in the editing, sets, and costume design. With the absence of scenes in A Hidden Life, the depictions of peasant farm life, particularly those of Franz, Franziska, and their children, transition by way of slow dissolves making way for an almost dreamlike quality that is enhanced by the mystical landscapes of the Austrian farmlands as they are covered by mist and clouds. Despite the fairy tale-esque and ethereal visual ambiance provided by the nature surrounding the village Franz and his family inhabit, work and chores must be completed to survive. Images of Franz, his wife, their children, and the rest of the townspeople hard at work, utilizing their tools and God-given strength to perform hard manual labor, create a documentarian-like approach as we observe the country folks surviving and living a simple life. A hard day’s work is visible by the clothes they wear, which are worn daily, their dirtiness, and their warndown appearance. When not tending to their farmland, the Jägerstätter Family enjoy the fruits of their labor by engaging in innocent horseplay and comical activities. That is, of course, before the community turns against them. Reminisces of simpler times, especially while Franz awaits his fate in prison, are remembered by Franz and Franziska via the use of flashbacks, such as the first time Franz and Franziska met as Franziska wore her best dress or the plethora of moments Franz and Franziska embrace in physical affection surrounded by the vastness of God’s green creations. Rather than utilizing complex narrative and character development-driven storytelling, A Hidden Life is a cinematic experience that moves the heart and soul in a pristine visual manner.
A Hidden Life, and the subject matter it explores is undoubtedly devastating but the result is one of hope and positivity. At the heart of A Hidden Life is a message that, even in times of darkness and despair, the power of our faith and the love shared with those who matter the most transcends and defeats the forces of evil. Whether Franz’s determination to stay true to his beliefs is viewed as selfish or an act of heroism is up for debate, the love shared between him, Franziska, and God sustained one another till the end. Beautifully captivating, angelic, somber, and inspiring, Terrence Malick’s A Hidden Life is a masterpiece of cinematic achievement not only on a technical level but also emotionally. Motion pictures akin to A Hidden Life, which act as nourishment for the soul, are needed now more than ever.
Reel/Musings 