A Whole Life

I found this movie when there were no reviews, although by the time I watched it had one, which captured it quite well. Still, why not add another with some additional thoughts.

The movie is nicely photographed and there's certainly great scenery to work with. It's well acted too. Andreas' life is a very hard one, and we follow it from age about ten, when he's an orphan arriving in a remote mountain village, to his old age demise.

While I was engaged to a degree thoughout, but in the final assessment his life, though tough, isn't really all that interesting, so it leaves a bit of a flat fealing when it's all over.

Shout out to the film makers for not coming here and giving themselves a set of ten star reviews, like so many do.

This is not your everyday movie, it is quite special.

You live with the main character Andreas, his life is hard, and you feel it through the whole movie. This is one point of my criticism, it always feels a little depressing, although Andreas, at some part of his life everything is on track, and at this point it doesn't capture the feeling well in my opinion.

The other missing star is because of the missing relationships, other than Marie. You kind of feel lonely in the whole movie. But maybe that is intended, who knows?

Because to the good part: it feels authentic. Scenery, music, acting, everything else supports this authenticity, that's what I want from a movie. Andreas' life is not very exceptional, and this can be seen good or bad, sometimes the story is a little flat, but all in all I could really appreciate it, because it added to the overall authenticity and "raw" unscripted experience.

I got really emotional at the end although I didn't even feel it that much throughout the movie - but it gets you thinking about your own life, your decisions, your own hardships and how you want to spend your old days. Well, I cried, but not for the character, or some artificial feeling that is pressed onto you, at least that's how it felt to me.

If one is prepared for all that, one can really enjoy this movie.

Short summary: The film talks about a Austrian person who lives in the Alps. I will keep it spoilers free. The film is basically main character's life from his early childhood (late 1890) to his pensioner years (early 1980s) with some spice in between. Uncommon Drama film.

Pros: -Good montage of the Alps and film overall.

-Story is straight, so there won't be loose ends.

-Film ending is good enough.

-Movie has a lot of random events. Some of it is predictable.

Cons: -Main story line seems to be bit dry.

-Good or interesting support characters doesn't have enough screen time.

The movie is in my opinion bit underrated and should have a lot more English recognition than in German/Austrian.

Perhaps I am a bit biased because I lived in Austria for close to 20 years and hence can identify with the life of many of its citizens. Add to this my own upbringing in the countryside, on a farm and ypu will understand why I can also identify with much of what is hapoening in this movie. I think it is largely authentic, though set in a different age. The actors appear believable, the events seem real and not atypical for the lifestyle, the behaviour and aspiration of ordinary people in the European mountain regions. I also liked the way how modern technology entered a basically rural area and with it changed peoples lifes.

No pun intended - one may ask, what is life? What is the purpose, when are we fulfilled? What should be our goals and all that ... of course depending on who you are and what you do - what morals you have and many other things that make you the individual you are ... they will determine your goals ... and of course one major thing, especially for this movie: where and when you are born! Now that is quite imperative.

The person we have here is put into ... well his place ... or the place he will have to go on for the rest of his life. You can't complain about stuff like that ... but go on and make the best of it ... not to mention all the stuff that happens during his life time .. some that has nothing to do with him either.

Really well told and edited ... more episodic at times, but never boring. If you like drama and life happens ... well you can watch this. Also the trailer is a good indicator to see if this even floats your boat (or cuts your tree?) ...