The story of a religious conscientious objector farmer from Austrian mountains during second world war, that gets drafted to the army, who is convinced the Reich's army is the evil force and Hitler might be the antichrist, so he can't even swear allegiance to him. First two hours show his own struggle with these beliefs, that collide with his village surroundings, where society is trying to force him to do "the right thing for the fatherland and family". With few exceptions, he and his wife are being bullied by the villagers, who think he's a coward trying to escape responsibility. When villagers start greeting with "Heil Hitler!", his righteousness impulsively reacts with "Pfui Hitler!". Even the mayor is taking his time, to convince him otherwise (because he might be also blamed). Farmer tries to find advice from the local priest, that sends him further to the bishop, who is also explaining the duty to the fatherland from the Bible. Farmer is convinced, the clergy is afraid to agree with him what's right. And he's obligated to decline unright.
Until this point movie is somewhat repetitive, slow, almost boring, and with known Malick rhythm makes the viewer drowsy. Some in the audience left the screening. If the whole story ended after two hours, it would be a very good movie. Yet it goes on for another 45 minutes, so one has to struggle to wait and see what happens to the farmer.
Farmer could ask to work in infirmary as a nurse, but he'd still have to swear allegiance to Hitler, that he doesn't want to. So, he's treated as a deserter and a traitor, and put in front of a tribunal, that sentences him to death. Whole emotional value of the movie concentrates in the scene, where wife and local priest visit him before execution and priest asks him to swear to Hitler, because God only considers what is one's true belief in the heart, not what they say. Farmer can't accept that as an honest choice. Many males in the audience secretly wiped their tears. Movie shows farmer's way to the execution and supporting wife's struggles, to keep the farm going, to provide for three daughters. She says she's going to meet her beloved husband in the beautiful mountains in the afterlife. At the time of the execution, a sympathetic friend of the family rings the bell, to announce conscience of the village had perished.
Malick ends the movie with written praise to many anonymous honest men, that with their personal struggles, mostly unknown, made living more bearable for the everyman in the modern world (if noone ever demanded civil over military service, conscientious objections still wouldn't be considered today). Movie starts with "based on a true story", and it would be interesting to know, whether it is based on the letters correspondence between the spouses, as it often seems so during the movie. Acting is convincing.
Farmer could ask to work in infirmary as a nurse, but he'd still have to swear allegiance to Hitler, that he doesn't want to. So, he's treated as a deserter and a traitor, and put in front of a tribunal, that sentences him to death. Whole emotional value of the movie concentrates in the scene, where wife and local priest visit him before execution and priest asks him to swear to Hitler, because God only considers what is one's true belief in the heart, not what they say. Farmer can't accept that as an honest choice. Many males in the audience secretly wiped their tears. Movie shows farmer's way to the execution and supporting wife's struggles, to keep the farm going, to provide for three daughters. She says she's going to meet her beloved husband in the beautiful mountains in the afterlife. At the time of the execution, a sympathetic friend of the family rings the bell, to announce conscience of the village had perished.
Malick ends the movie with written praise to many anonymous honest men, that with their personal struggles, mostly unknown, made living more bearable for the everyman in the modern world (if noone ever demanded civil over military service, conscientious objections still wouldn't be considered today). Movie starts with "based on a true story", and it would be interesting to know, whether it is based on the letters correspondence between the spouses, as it often seems so during the movie. Acting is convincing.