Beyond What Remains

As the opening credits rolled, I wondered how long it would take for me to start caring. Caring about the storyline and the characters. I was cynical, after all it was filmed in black and white and in a language that I am only capable of ordering beers in. The film gently picked on my curiosity and empathy, so gently that as I was admiring the way the light bounced off of the blacks, whites and grays of the scene, flatly defining the tone of the story unfolding, I found myself falling in love. The character's stories were genuine and relatable. The depth of sadness and beauty of life's small wonders were reflected brilliantly by the two main actors. This film left me not wanting more, It was as perfect and poignant as a story can be.