DirkH’s review published on Letterboxd:
Recommended to me on my Lend me your Heart list (which can be found here)
So it finally happened. I met my Nemesis. This film completely and utterly wrenched every emotion imaginable from me and left me gutted, sad, hopeful and amazed. And I cried and that is something I just don't do.
I guess anyone that has seen this film will agree with me that going in blind is the only way to fully appreciate the full extent of what director Kuenne has created here. Rationally, purely on a cinematic level, this film is astounding as it is. It is edited, narrated and structured perfectly. It manages to slowly suck you in and unfolds its story and eventual sentiment behind it so beautifully that you hardly even notice it is happening. It has that rare quality of making time disappear, leaving only you and a story and what it does to you. That, in itself, is a unique and powerful thing.
And then there is the actual story. The reason why this film was made alone is an inspiring sentiment, but the road it leads you down will probably make you feel the broadest spectrum of emotions imaginable. There were pieces where I smiled as if I remembered a dear friend, pieces where I actually wanted to shout at the screen in rage, pieces that made my jaw drop to the floor. And there were pieces where the grief, sadness and emotional despair beat down upon me so relentlessly I could do nothing but cringe and shed a tear with all involved. And the most important reason for all that happening was that it was real, heartfelt and honest.
As sad and angering most of it was, this is, in the end, one of the most life affirming films I've seen in a while. It shows something we as a species need, that connection to others. I am not a religious person. Scratch that, that is an understatement, I am as atheist as they get. But I do believe in life. And if there is a thing like a soul, it resides in the connections we have to other people, to our families and to our next-of-kin. And that is something this documentary, through tears of pain and anger, manages to capture with utmost sincerity.
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