Loved 'Train Dreams'? Watch This 7-Year-Old Masterpiece It Was Likely Inspired By

Quiet, meditative, and poignant dramas rarely become huge hits, yet they are the ones that stay with us long after we've seen them.

This year's Oscar nominee, Train Dreams, is a film that whispers instead of shouting. It immerses viewers in a contemplative state, making us feel every second of the screen.

However, this movie had a predecessor – Terrence Malick's A Hidden Life, released in 2019, is a three-hour gem about fortitude, faith, and the price of principles.

What Is 'A Hidden Life' About?

Franz, an Austrian, lives with his wife, Franziska, and their three daughters in the picturesque Alpine village. Their life is idyllic: working in the fields, playing with their children, enjoying quiet evenings together, and giving thanks to God for every peaceful day.

But then World War II begins. Franz was mobilized, sent to a training unit, and then returned home. When he is called up again, he makes a firm decision – he will not fight for the Nazis.

Neither threats from neighbors nor the prospect of ostracism from his family nor arrest nor even a death sentence could shake his conviction.

Like 'Train Dreams', 'A Hidden Life' Is a Quiet, Meditative, Yet Piercing Movie

Terrence Malick is a poetic director who values states over events. In A Hidden Life, there is almost no conventional plot, it is a series of images, emotions, internal monologues, and enchanting landscapes.

Cinematographer Jörg Widmer lovingly captures the alpine meadows, mountains, clouds, and characters' faces with his camera. Time seems to stand still – you simply exist within the story.

As in Train Dreams, the internal dynamics are more important than the external ones: doubts, fears, moments of quiet joy, and the inevitability of choice.

Malick employs similar techniques to those used in Train Dreams: a voiceover that sounds like a prayer, close-ups that convey subtle movements of the soul, and nature as an active participant in the story.

'A Hidden Life' Is a Powerful Anti-War Film Without a Single Kill

Surprisingly, this World War II movie doesn't feature a single gunshot, battle scene, or drop of blood. The most powerful scene is Franz's interrogation: they try to convince him that his solitary protest won't change anything – the war will continue, millions will die, and his death will go unnoticed.

A Hidden Life is built on contrasts: the divine beauty of nature versus the ugliness of human cruelty, the love of a wife versus the betrayal of neighbors, and inner freedom versus external shackles.

Rather than being about war, this film is about humanity, the right to make one's own choices, and the idea that true strength lies not in weapons but in the spirit.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'A Hidden Life'?

• A Hidden Life has 82% from critics and 72% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 7.4/10.

• On Letterboxd, A Hidden Life scored 4.1/5.0.

Where to Watch 'A Hidden Life'?

A Hidden Life is available to stream on Disney+.