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Parents' Guide to

Never Look Away

By Tara McNamara, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

German art epic mixes history, politics, and LOTS of sex.

Movie R 2018 188 minutes
Never Look Away Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 18+

Based on 1 parent review

NYArtist
NYArtist Adult
September 20, 2019
age 18+

ONE OF THE BEST....

This is one of the all time best films I've seen. Intriguing, emotional, beautifully photographed. This film pulls your emotions into the world of art and the world of war, in a way that is not easily forgotten. Particularly for artists, Dont Look Away takes a journey into the struggles and growth into the creative process. Just an amazing film.

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What's the Story?

NEVER LOOK AWAY is a German drama that explores the impact of the Nazi regime and the Berlin Wall on the German people through the perspective of a young artist. Inspired by events in the life of modern artist Gerhard Richter, the film spans three decades of German political history as it tells two parallel stories. Kurt Barnert (Tom Schilling) tries to move past the tragedies that befell his family during World War II and its aftermath, seeking happiness, fulfillment, and his artistic voice in a communist world. He falls in love with another student, Ellie Seeband (Paula Beer), whose professor father, Carl (Sebastian Koch), plots to break them up. But the three are unaware that their lives are already intertwined through an unconscionable wartime crime.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

Never Look Away is a gorgeous, intriguing landmine of an epic. It depicts two conflicting approaches to life as a device to offer a deeper, if not shocking, understanding of humanity, art, politics, and Germany's heinous history of oppression. It's an "art film" in every sense of the word -- it has lush cinematography, an exploration of philosophical ideas, smoking and brooding, sex and nudity, and, of course, art. Using Richter's life story as a template, the movie exposes viewers to art history, evolution, and a museum's worth of works. It is, in itself, a true work of art.

But, if that sounds like it's a lot, it is. Viewers don't just walk a mile in Kurt's shoes -- it's more like 3,000, since the journey takes longer than three hours, with no intermission. The film's run time, combined with the subtitles, will likely be a turnoff for older teens, who might benefit from having the nuances of history laid out in front of them and pick up the warnings the film provides, such as why it's important to be vigilant about the direction of government and resolute in your own ethics. And, as positively impactful as the film can be, it also opens another can of worms: creating empathy for those who endorsed and thus perpetrated Nazism.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the characters in Never Look Away: Germans who were either Nazis or complicit. Did the film increase your empathy or understanding for the German citizens during Hitler's regime? Do you think it's OK to feel compassion for people who were, ultimately, backing Germany's atrocities?

  • Kurt's family doesn't agree with Nazi principles, so why do you think they joined? How does taking the easy way out affect them after their country is defeated? In your life, has there been a time when you or someone you know did what "everyone was doing" rather than what was right, and it caught up with them?

  • Above all else, the film is about finding your artistic perspective. Do you agree that art can help you work through trauma? If you follow Kurt's instructor's directive -- to answer "what am I?" -- does that help you find your artistic voice?

  • How does Kurt demonstrate character strengths like perseverance and courage? He was a successful artist in East Germany, so why do you think he fled the country? If he hadn't, how do you think his life would have been different?

  • The movie depicts real events with a layer of fiction, meaning audiences don't know what's true and what isn't. Do you think it helps or hurts a movie to leave audiences guessing about the truth of it?

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