Lichtjahre entfernt

First of all, this film is NOT in French. The director is Swiss, French speaking, but Lightyears Away was filmed in Ireland, with Trevor Howard and Mick Ford speaking English, along with the rest of the small cast. This film is essentially about a Zen master-pupil relationship. Howard is at his cranky best. The cinematography is outstanding, somehow capturing the haunting beauty of the Connemara Peninsula in County Galway, on the west coast of the Republic of Ireland.

Does anybody know where I can track down a copy of it? DVD would be great.

This film, released at the time under the title Light Years Away, is an intriguing variation on the master-apprentice theme. A restless young man with no ambitions is taken in by a mysterious old man who undertakes to teach him.

As in all apprenticeships, the young man must overcome a number of tests in order to be admitted to the inner sanctum of the Master's wisdom.

At this point the prospective viewer might imagine the story is set in a fairytale world full of magic and mystery, but instead he will find himself facing the bleak Irish countryside that serves as a great counterpoint to the mystery in the plot.

Do not be put off by the relative obscurity of this film, it is a true work of art.

If you EVER get the chance to see this, take it and let yourself be surprised. Of al the movies that handle this subject is this the one that sets the standard. Never have I seen a movie which is so well filmed, acted and produced on this subject as this one. If only someone would take it on himself to have this produced on VHS. The world is at a loss without this.

This film is great. It's a saga. It tells you about the magic of life and the unlimited possibilities you have. This film is magic, it is filled with suspense of the best kind: mixed with wonder. It starts with a guy who is a loser. He gets in contact with an old man who is a teacher as a teacher should be. A teacher of life. The young man is tested to the limit. It makes this movie great, and it makes you part of the adventure. To me the end was a bit puzzling. That's one of the reasons I'd like to see it again. I saw this movie almost 30 years ago with a friend and we still agree it is the best movie we ever saw. Like everybody else here I'm trying to get it on DVD.

If you ever have the opportunity to watch this movie, do not miss it! I have seen it four times, between 1980 and 1986, and I wish I could see it again, but it is not available to rent. Jonas'creator Alain Tanner leads us in this movie through Daniel Odier's wonderful metaphorical story of a simple young man, who decides to say yes and go to encounter his redemption. An opportunity to see how the relationship between two completely different men develop in beautiful and tender scenes and without noticing it to reflect about what to be human is all about...