Hochwald

I know the title of this review is damning with faint praise but I had mixed feelings about this film. I actually didn't warm to the main character Mario in particular. His particular brand of contrariness didn't ring true, especially as he was doing this in a conservative Alpine town.

However, the descent into breakdown was finely described, drawing upon addiction issues and PTSD. Even better was the hideous plausibility of "Mami" the Imam who had ensnared several local youths, some previously Muslim and "returning" to the fold and others who were not Muslim from birth. It wouldn't have taken much to spill these gullible lads over the edge into into real extremism.

Life in a prosperous village upslope was shown in its mind-numbing conformity. Even worse were the villagers' reactions when they learnt of the circumstances of the atrocity in Rome with Lenz. Tolerance of Mario went out of the window even though he didn't help himself.

There had been no question of my switching off and I can't say that the film was too long or was boring even in parts. I was interested throughout. However, there was just a certain something lacking and a dichotomy between what was happening with Mario and his reactions to it. Who knows, in the real world, he could have been on the edge and the death tipped him over.