Wintergast

The main character and his 'woes' are not in the least bit interesting. There is no payoff at all from watching this drab and dull movie. ...............................................................

This beautifully shot film follows the artistically blocked main character on his odyssey through modern Switzerland as seen through train or bus windows and the interiors of basic budget hotels and hostels. The urban industrial landscapes are alienating whilst the mountains and forests are stunningly beautiful. The acting appears so true to life and subtle that you'd think it was fly on the wall documentary. The pace of the plot development is steady and moves towards the essentially life affirming conclusion. I loved this film and will watch it again.

Nothing much happens in Wintergast and that is the point. The cinematography, acting, score, and plotting are sparse in a way that reflects and enhances the central theme. While the film itself is never meta, the context of the film adds a dimension: this is a first time feature length film about the difficulty of that feat-it feels more mature than it deserves to be, given the directors/writers' previous experiences with just a few short films. It's not a perfect film, but as the film itself tells us, these things don't need to be perfect they just need to be made-honest and closely observed.