Caged Birds (Bis wir tot sind oder frei) - 2020 (Drama, Romance)
3.5 out of 5 stars
"Barbara Hug is a young lawyer fighting Switzerland's antiquated prison system in the 1980s. Walter Stürm is in and often escaping out of jail, becoming known as the Jailbreak King. When the two meet, an unlikely alliance is formed." That synopsis is every bit as intriguing as it sounds!
Every year I watch countless movies (okay, I just often forget to keep count,) international, documentaries, animated films, short films, cult films, blockbusters, etc. Each year, one of my biggest goals is to watch every Oscar-nominated movie before the Oscar ceremony (only nine left to go, and the shorts for this year!) In doing so, I watch many award-worthy films; however, even with tackling a lot of the shortlisted films and even submitted movies, I still miss out on so many notable films each year. That's why I'm so glad I've been given this privilege to review films that are slightly off-radar otherwise.
It's a timeless story that continues to be an issue; after watching the documentary "Attica," it was only fitting that this would be one of my subsequent films. One of the most remarkable aspects of this film was its visual style; while I knew I was watching a newly filmed movie, I also felt like I was right back in the thick of things in the 80s. A mix of cinematography and the medium this was shot on indeed came into play to give this incredible experience.
Both Marie Leuenberger and Joel Basman give the lead performances that sell this film; simultaneously, the supporting cast was full of incredible talent, but the connection between the leads held the film together. Their chemistry on-screen overrides the story at times; while it's incredibly well written, the actors are what manages to sell this story that we've seen before. I don't mean that negatively at all; stories have been told repeatedly since the beginning of film. It's what the team behind the film brings that makes it memorable or not. I haven't seen any of director Oliver Rihs' other movies, but I will be digging into them after this.
Where to watch: Available via virtual cinema February 25th
Cornith FIlms Foundry Communications
For more reviews and my YouTube channel, please visit linktr.ee/Overlyhonestmoviereviews
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. Find my social media accounts on most platforms simply by searching Overly Honest Movie Reviews.
I'm always happy to hear from my readers; please say hi or send me any questions about all things movies.
"Barbara Hug is a young lawyer fighting Switzerland's antiquated prison system in the 1980s. Walter Stürm is in and often escaping out of jail, becoming known as the Jailbreak King. When the two meet, an unlikely alliance is formed." That synopsis is every bit as intriguing as it sounds!
Every year I watch countless movies (okay, I just often forget to keep count,) international, documentaries, animated films, short films, cult films, blockbusters, etc. Each year, one of my biggest goals is to watch every Oscar-nominated movie before the Oscar ceremony (only nine left to go, and the shorts for this year!) In doing so, I watch many award-worthy films; however, even with tackling a lot of the shortlisted films and even submitted movies, I still miss out on so many notable films each year. That's why I'm so glad I've been given this privilege to review films that are slightly off-radar otherwise.
It's a timeless story that continues to be an issue; after watching the documentary "Attica," it was only fitting that this would be one of my subsequent films. One of the most remarkable aspects of this film was its visual style; while I knew I was watching a newly filmed movie, I also felt like I was right back in the thick of things in the 80s. A mix of cinematography and the medium this was shot on indeed came into play to give this incredible experience.
Both Marie Leuenberger and Joel Basman give the lead performances that sell this film; simultaneously, the supporting cast was full of incredible talent, but the connection between the leads held the film together. Their chemistry on-screen overrides the story at times; while it's incredibly well written, the actors are what manages to sell this story that we've seen before. I don't mean that negatively at all; stories have been told repeatedly since the beginning of film. It's what the team behind the film brings that makes it memorable or not. I haven't seen any of director Oliver Rihs' other movies, but I will be digging into them after this.
Where to watch: Available via virtual cinema February 25th
Cornith FIlms Foundry Communications
For more reviews and my YouTube channel, please visit linktr.ee/Overlyhonestmoviereviews
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. Find my social media accounts on most platforms simply by searching Overly Honest Movie Reviews.
I'm always happy to hear from my readers; please say hi or send me any questions about all things movies.
