
Diggingdeepintothepastofhisownfamilyforthesecondtime(aftermakinghischildhoodyearstheinspirationalhitofBerlinale,“TheBestofAllWorlds”,2017),AustriandirectorHelmerAdrianGoigingerpresentsamanifestoofhumanisminthisdramafromthemostinhumaneepisodeofhistorysofar:thesecondworldwar.<br/> ThisisthetruestoryofFranzStreitberger,AdrianGoigingers’greatgrandfather.Atthebeginningofthewar,anintrovertedyoungsoldierfindsawoundedfoxcubwhomhelooksafterlikeitwashisownchildandtakesalongtooccupiedFrance.Throughthisstrangefriendshipwiththeanimal,hisownpastfromwhichhehasalwaysrunawayslowlycatchesupwithhim.<br/> Whennotconcentratingonthefacesofitsprotagonists,thecolossalimageryshowsburntvehiclesandvastlandscapes,avoidthatisofcourseasymbolicone.Thissenseofbrutalisedtimes,ofbeingforcedintoconflict,feelsmorethantopicalagain.<br/> Thissimplesoldier’staleandhisencounterwithnature,aswellashisinherentpacifismusesspectacularimagerytoconveytheurgentlyneededmessageofpeace.
