Never Look Away

THE GIST: Kurt grew up in Germany during WWII, experiencing personal loss since childhood. Now a young man, he is a painter whose artistic vision is stifled by the ruling Communist party. Will an escape to West Germany allow him to finally break free of the yoke?

Never Look Away was nominated for a Best Foreign Language Film (as well as Cinematography) Academy Award, and for good reason. The film expertly weaves together different historical events and periods of time into a cohesive whole.

It really is unfathomable to think of the horrors people had to endure during the last world war, as well as during the following long decades under the oppressive rule of the Soviet Union.

The story is based on a German artist called Gerhard Richter, whose style of painting is recreated in the movie with jaw-dropping results.

THE BOTTOM LINE: A nice, multi-layered story that's well-written and showcases some excellent performances. Be aware that the runtime is over three hours . . . But they're worth it.

Grade: 8