Lore  

NR

  108 min flat

Feb 24

Feb 17

Mar 10

Feb 17

Feb 10

Feb 24

Feb 17

Courtesy of Music Box Films
AUSTRALIA (2012) • in German

Left to fend for themselves after their SS officer father and mother, a staunch Nazi believer, are interred by the victorious Allies at the end of World War II, five German children undertake a harrowing journey that exposes them to the reality and consequences of their parents' actions. Led by the eldest sibling, 14-year old Lore (striking newcomer Saskia Rosendahl), they set out on a harrowing journey across a devastated country to reach their grandmother in the north. After meeting the charismatic Thomas, a mysterious young refugee, Lore soon finds her world shattered by feelings of both hatred and desire as she must learn to trust the one person she has always been taught to hate in order to survive.

Club reactions by city:

moderated by Matthew Bernstein

A visually poetic film that left me in despair. One of the few films that I can say has actually changed me.

Extremely captivating and immersive. Great use of tight framing and beautiful cinematography that a afforded a poetic graceful quality to a horrible situation.

Transformative. Unflinching look at humanity.

moderated by Mike Budd
with guest Karen Davis

Harrowing and hard to watch, but an interesting story about an aspect of WWII I was not aware of.

Difficult to see but very worthwhile.

I found it too graphic and slow moving.

moderated by Gilberto Blasini

Intense, visceral film dealing with base human needs mixed with conflicting allegiances. Outstanding!

Beautiful use of color and light. It seemed like an unusually quiet movie. Not a lot of music and I think it gave a calming effect.

Fantastic film. Maybe the best we have seen.

moderated by Michael Kerbel
with guest George Robinson, Film Critic

Lush and terribly stark at the same time. When does the war truly end? Surely not when the last bullet has been fired on the battlefield. Haunting, masterful control of images.

A powerful film of survival and family -- and a raw glimpse of the devastation of war. Surprisingly, I found great beauty in this horror, partly due to the wonderful camerawork (angles, composition, lighting, etc.)

I felt like I did not breathe throughout this riveting movie. It was so masterfully done that I felt like I was on the journey with these characters.

moderated by Rod Armstrong

A fresh, unique take on the consequences of the Holocaust. The film describes the essence and complexity of the situation through story, images and symbolism but WITHOUT having the characters explicitly discuss it.

Almost a fairy tale in the Brothers Grimm style, with children traveling through the forest and encountering many perils on the way to grandmother's house.

Too many scary houses and close-ups of feet. Too damn long.

moderated by Harper Barnes
with guest Robert Cohn, Jewish Light

Powerful, disturbing, thought-provoking. Saskia Rosendahl is superb. Cate Shortland avoids easy stereotypes or pat answers to complex moral dilemmas.

I felt this film was a profound portrayal of how easily and tenanciously people can believe and cling to lies that perpetuate a false sense of security.

Excellent movie from a perspective that is not often shown.

moderated by David Sterritt
with guest critic Matt Zoler-Seitz

An interesting and powerful film, but I can safely say that I don't care about Nazi children.

Intense Modern Grmm's Fairy Tale. Right Now I could use a shot of schnapps

Hard to watch, but an excellent portrayal of a change in a young girl's world view.