On the podcast this week, Steven and Sean are standing up to our oppressors and giving a well-deserved “screw you” to the Nazis in this episode about the 2019 film from Terrence Malick, A Hidden Life.
I think it’s safe to say that no one alive can make a film as beautiful as Terrence Malick can. Can we just get that out of the way at the beginning? If you’ve seen any of his work, and I hope you’ve at least seen this one, I think you’ll agree with me here.
Let’s look at a few of them:
Those are all remarkable works of art. His eye is finely tuned toward the beautiful and the majestic. He can see in light and colors that few others can. Malick is an auteur of huge renown, and for good reason. His work captures emotions and life in a unique, organic way. We’re all lucky to be alive in a time when he’s making films.
And when this director turns his considerable attention toward the true story of Franz Jägerstätter, a conscientious objector in Austria during World War II, a man who (spoilers) died for his beliefs, you know it’s going to be meaningful, emotional, and gorgeous.
It’s also going to be a heavy one. It’s hard to say what any of us would do if we were in Franz’s place, but I think it’s safe to say that it’s damn tough to embody the courage and determination he did. That’s not even to mention the family he left behind because of his adherence to his morality. We all say we stand firm on our beliefs, but it’s another matter when your life is on the line because of them.
This film should be required viewing for all people. It shows how cold, cruel, futile, and pointless war (and Nazis) can be. It depicts a man, and his family, who fights against those who would execute someone who doesn’t want to kill others for a monster (Hitler, in this case). It gives us the gift of knowing about a real hero.
(Recorded on February 08, 2021)
Links to Stuff We Mentioned:
A Hidden Life trailer - YouTube
Crispy Baked Teriyaki Tofu - Connoisseurus Veg
Franz Jägerstätter - Wikipedia
(This website’s in German, but there are still some nice pictures throughout the page.)
The Detention Camps at the Border Are a Crime - The Atlantic
