Really good, really sad, this story of a pubescent girl leading her 4 siblings cross country after her Nazi parents' arrest at the end of WWII stayed with us, especially the performance of newcomer Saskia Rosendahl (19 when it was filmed) in the title role. Lore's staunch belief in the Nazi propaganda she's been taught makes her a less than sympathetic heroine, adding to the complexity of the moviegoers' experience. The other children are great, too, even the infant Peter, who slowly screws up his face to cry at one particular pivotal moment (poor kid cries a lot during the movie. I always wonder: do they pinch those tiny actors?).
Director/co-writer Cate Shortland (new to me but she made some shorts, some TV, one feature, and a TV movie before this in her native Australia) adapts, with co-writer Robin Mukherjee (more TV series, one feature, and some plays), the novel The Dark Room by Rachel Seiffert. The movie is in German with English subtitles and is a UK/Australia/Germany production. Australia submitted it as its official Academy Award contender. Cinematographer Adam Arkapaw (Animal Kingdom, more) won some festival awards for the artful pictures.
The haunting soundtrack by Max Richter (Waltz with Bashir, Jiro Dreams of Sushi, the song On the Nature of Daylight, that was in Stranger than Fiction (2006) and Shutter Island) can't be had in this country, but you can hear clips on Australian iTunes and youtube.
With ratings averaging 93% critic and 75 audiences on rottentomatoes, this is worth your time when you can find a way to be cheerful afterwards. We saw it a week ago and I think it will play another 5 days down the street.
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