minimaster-67734

This film tells its story out of chronological order, and while the structure isn't too hard to follow, it doesn't create the smoothest or most natural flow. The constant shifts in time can feel a little distracting, and some viewers might find themselves less absorbed because of it.

The pacing also gets in the way. The movie starts off very slowly, almost to the point where it's hard to stay engaged, and it takes a long time before anything really starts happening. Even when the story finally gains some momentum, it never becomes especially emotional. It remains simple and grounded, which can work well for a period drama, especially one that aims for realism. And to be fair, the film does a great job capturing the look and feel of the time period with detailed, believable imagery.

Still, as good as the visuals are, the story itself feels pretty thin. There isn't a lot of depth, and it's hard to feel truly connected to what's going on. Because of that, the movie ends up being more impressive to look at than enjoyable to watch.

One creative choice that doesn't land very well is using the same actor to play both the father and, years later, the son. It's a bold idea, but it comes across as a bit cliché and doesn't really add anything meaningful to the story. If anything, it pulls you out of the experience.

Overall, this period drama is well-made and visually strong, but its pacing, plot, and character choices leave plenty of room for improvement.

This movie relies heavily on suggestion and implication, creating a deliberately understated atmosphere for much of its runtime. The director masterfully employs visual cues - carefully chosen camera focuses, deliberate character placement, and subtle eye exchanges - to convey a significant portion of the narrative. Consequently, the film unfolds at a remarkably slow pace, arguably one of the most deliberate I've experienced in recent cinema.

While I generally appreciate a measured pace, this movie struggled to make its slowness truly engaging. There's a considerable amount of repetition, and a noticeable amount of padding that feels more like extended sequences of seemingly random life snippets than purposeful storytelling. It's a tricky balance, and the film unfortunately doesn't always succeed.

However, the narrative does begin to gain momentum towards the end. The surprise, then, is the shift in pace as the characters finally begin to articulate their thoughts and feelings. By that point, you've become accustomed to the extended silences and slow observation, making the brief moments of dialogue and increased action feel particularly impactful.