Lore (2013)

Simply put: terrible film-making. It seems they were trying to be artsy by using extreme close-up and shaky camera. Even though it's somewhat dizzying, I can handle artsy, but if you can't even tell your story, what's the point? Half the time, you don't know where the kids are and what is happening to them. Then you ask, why is every adult they encounter cruel? And why are all the allies are evil and ready to shoot them? Most of it makes no sense at all, and the parts that do are historically inaccurate. I was ready to shut it down halfway through, but my husband convinced me to hang in there. But for what? A pointless, disappointing ending.

This review contains spoilers. If you have not seen the film then please don't read this review.My thoughts after the movie: I think the movie is about how everything Lore has been told to believe has been a lie. I think "Thomas" was not a Jewish survivor but someone on the run. I think he may have worked at the camp and therefore had stolen the ID of a real Jewish victim. He may have even given himself the tattoo. The signs pointing to him not being an actual refugee are: 1) we first encounter him at that chicken farm. A woman had been raped and murdered and the egg shells leading from that crime scene lead to "Thomas". He had been hiding there. I think he raped that woman. 2) When he sexually assaults Lore, he does that in front of photos of the victims of the holocaust. A normal survivor would be sickened and would not want anything to do with a German girl. 3) He follows them and it is in his interest to be seen with the group so that not to raise any suspicions. 4) For a holocaust survivor he is remarkably in good physical shape. He is resourceful. 5) He is aware that all the bridges have been destroyed. The German army destroyed the bridges to that the Americans would be delayed. A prisoner at a Concentration Camp wouldn't have known that. 6) He is too sexually interested in Lore. She calls him with anti-Semitic insults and he is not bothered 7) he escapes when he loses his papers. He was probably SS and using every trick to escape 8) One of the young boys had taken out the photo of their SS father. "Thomas" was close by. he did not get bothered by it. 9) He wanted to be under cover and under the radar. He was a Nazis and he was on the runLore sees all the lies at the end and everything clicks for her and that is why she breaks those figurines because she realises everything has been a lie and therefore she believes that Germans murdered Jews and she has had enough it. She doesn't want to be part of those beliefs. She is sickened by it.

As the Allies close in, Lore (Saskia Rosendahl) and her Nazi parents try to hide in the countryside. Her parents are fighting. Her new life is rustic. First her father abandons them. Then her mother leaves telling her that the Allies kill the children. Finally they are kicked out of the farm by the owner. She has to lead her four younger siblings to their grandmother in Hamburg. The world is a dangerous place filled with desperate people. They are helped out by Holocaust survivor Thomas but she is conflicted about the parasitic Jew.This is a little thought provoking movie. It's a fascinating journey of a young woman trying to come to terms with the lies of her parents. It's not simplified. There are twists and turns. They are not out of line. The journey probably needs a few more dangerous moments to elevate the tension. For the most parts, it's a slow simmering tension. This is more about Lore's personal journey of her thinking about the war and her parents.

"Lore" hooked me pretty quickly as I enjoy this genre of movies - combining an extremely important piece of history with an engaging story.The movie reminded me some of "The Road" due to it being similar to a post-apocalyptic journey. Of course "Lore" is a about a story that could have really taken place while "The Road" is about a fictionalized end of the world scenario. The accounts that I have studied regarding post WW2 Germany has been described as apocalyptic. Other factors that made me believe that "Lore" is accurately describing the post WW2 scene:The many suicides in the country that took place.The brain washing of the young and the influence Hitler had on the youth in Germany.The dichotomy of the German psyche with the differing views of those that believed in the regime and those that did not.There is great character development the lead character "Lore" was first rate. You can see the various degrees the NAZI doctrine had on each of the characters and the potential for it to finally be removed from their psyches. The younger girl was excellent as well. Great acting all around.