A Hidden Life

A Hidden Life is based on the life of unsung hero Franz Jägerstätter (August Diehl), who refused to take the oath of allegiance to Hitler. When the Austrian peasant farmer is faced with the threat of execution for treason, it is his unwavering faith and his love for his wife, Fani, and children that keeps his spirit alive. Despite many opportunities to sign the oath of allegiance, Jägerstätter continued to stand up for his beliefs and was executed by the Third Reich in August 1943. Visionary writer and director Terrence Malick returns with an exquisite epic work, screened in competition at Cannes 2019, that “deconstructs religion and nationalism by looking at someone who refused to fight” (Vox.com).