I'm honestly surprised this movie isn't more popular with war film fans?? It's stunning all around and incredibly memorable, and interestingly enough based on a true story
The main performance is stellar. Max Hubacher really plays into this idea of a man who is oscillating between pathetic and small, trying to keep up with his own lies, and someone who commands attention and fear from others. In my opinion, he really mastered facial expressions, down to subtleties in the eyebrows. When the character, Herold, struggled to keep up his story under pressure and scrutiny, so too did Max Hubacher's face.
I also found it incredibly interesting how often this idea of size was used as symbolism of sorts. Herold is not tall, but when he only encounters men he sees as his inferiors and subordinates and believes he can control, he always appears to be looking down on them. Later, when his story and authority face scrutiny from actual higher-ups, the choice to cast taller, larger actors feels very deliberate. They tower over Herold and emphasize his reality— he's just a small man masquerading as someone of importance. Additionally, there are many stunningly cinematic shots captured from afar, making Herold look incredibly small and insignificant within his surroundings.
Black and white was also a good choice for this film. I felt that it really fit and captured the story wonderfully. The shot composition felt very meticulous and intentional every step of the way. I also appreciated the recurring symbols, like that of the car (which I could go into more but I've already yapped a lot)
All that to say it was shocking and interesting, well-shot, and just generally really fascinating 🙂↕️
I'm honestly surprised this movie isn't more popular with war film fans?? It's stunning all around and incredibly memorable, and interestingly enough based on a true story
The main performance is stellar. Max Hubacher really plays into this idea of a man who is oscillating between pathetic and small, trying to keep up with his own lies, and someone who commands attention and fear from others. In my opinion, he really mastered facial expressions, down to subtleties in the eyebrows. When the character, Herold, struggled to keep up his story under pressure and scrutiny, so too did Max Hubacher's face.
I also found it incredibly interesting how often this idea of size was used as symbolism of sorts. Herold is not tall, but when he only encounters men he sees as his inferiors and subordinates and believes he can control, he always appears to be looking down on them. Later, when his story and authority face scrutiny from actual higher-ups, the choice to cast taller, larger actors feels very deliberate. They tower over Herold and emphasize his reality— he's just a small man masquerading as someone of importance. Additionally, there are many stunningly cinematic shots captured from afar, making Herold look incredibly small and insignificant within his surroundings.
Black and white was also a good choice for this film. I felt that it really fit and captured the story wonderfully. The shot composition felt very meticulous and intentional every step of the way. I also appreciated the recurring symbols, like that of the car (which I could go into more but I've already yapped a lot)
All that to say it was shocking and interesting, well-shot, and just generally really fascinating 🙂↕️
