Buena Vista International
Having been stuck in a period of stagnation following it’s Best Foreign Film and Best Cinematography nominations at the 2019 Oscars, director Florian Heckel von Donnersmack’s acclaimed Never Look Away is finally hitting screens this weekend and it was worth the wait.
Spanning three segments of the life of aspiring artist Kurt (Tom Schilling), Never Look Away tells the story of his life as a boy, tormented by a childhood under the rule of the Nazis – leading to personal tragedy within his family (that plays a big part in his later years) – into his adolescence an adult life. He is accepted into art school, where he excels past his peers and falls in love with fashion student Ellie (Paula Beer); the pair share a beautiful and intimate relationship before moving to West Germany where Kurt tries to find himself as an artist – and person.
Related: Watch the new trailer for Never Look Away
With a 188-minute runtime, you’re most definitely in for the long haul with Never Look Away. And Donnersmack takes his time in exploring his characters and letting the narrative unfold – it’s a patient, pensive affair for sure. Yet, the film flies past; by the time the credits roll, we feel like we’ve taken a journey with these characters. In a similar way to Boyhood, this film encapsulates a whole lifetime and it’s exquisitely captured and investing every step of the way. The characters that propel the narrative further are subliminally realised – we care deeply for them and their lives – and I honestly could have sat there and just watched them for hours on end. The screenplay strikes the perfect balance of being emotional yet provocative; the themes can be intense and the film doesn’t shy away from showing the darker side of Kurt’s life but it’s so thoughtfully handled that it never feels like too much. The narrative can run away in melodrama at times – a particular subplot feels quite soap-y – but it’s still just such a fascinating true story and so beautifully done that it’s forgivable considering how brilliant everything else is.
Of course, as beautifully crafted a film as this is, with careful writing and stunning filmmaking on display – not to mention the sumptuous cinematography that got this film nominated in the first place – Never Look Away’s true strength lies in the performances. Schilling is incredible – a very understated, quietly profound performance that really is the heart of Kurt. He’s matched blow-for-blow by Beer, the pair have veritable chemistry that really makes their relationship so tender and tangible. Everyone brings such authenticity to their roles, crafting characters that leap off the page into three-dimensional people who are complex, flawed and dealing with their own demons. Sebastian Koch’s Professor Seeband is the perfect example of this – a morally dubious, yet understandably conflicted, character anchored by a great performance. Never Look Away is a powerful, understated character study that looks at love, individuality, grief and so much more through the lens of art. Like a piece of art, it’s thoughtful and gorgeous yet, behind the visual appeal, beneath the surface, full of complexity and nuance. Ultimately, you can’t look away from what this stunning piece of art has to offer. It’s utterly exquisite.
Never Look Away is released in cinemas on 5th July.
