Michael Haneke directs Christian Friedel, Ulrich Tukur and Leonie Benesch in this period arthouse drama where a school teacher remembers a series of minor tragedies that mysteriously plagued a small town in the build up to World War One.

Like Childhood of the Leader we are watching fascism, the Nazi mindset, taking root in a generation. The drama never explicitly spells this out, but the shy romance and minor crimes power a slow yet meditative ensemble drama that achingly alludes to broader, bigger insidious ideas. Beautiful monochrome photography by Christian Berger too.

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