Lore
About the Film
Left to fend for themselves after their SS officer father and mother, staunch Nazi believers, are interred by the victorious Allies at the end of World War II, five German children undertake a harrowing journey that exposes them to the reality and consequences of their parents' actions. Led by the eldest sibling, 14-year old Lore (striking newcomer Saskia Rosendahl), they set out on a journey across a devastated country to reach their grandmother in the north. After meeting the charismatic Thomas, a mysterious young refugee, Lore soon finds her world shattered by feelings of both hatred and desire as she must learn to trust the one person she has always been taught to hate in order to survive. Lush cinematography and an evocative, haunting mood infuse this unconventional take on the Holocaust legacy with unforgettable impact.
Based on the book "Lore" by Rachel Seiffert. For more information on the book, visit here.
Reactions
"Intense and emotional. Saskia Rosendahl is mesmerizing." - Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
"Critic's Pick!" - New York Times
“Cate Shortland’s promise is amply, even startlingly, fulfilled.” - Joe Morgenstern, The Wall Street Journal
"A lyrical, deeply affecting study into a rarely seen legacy of the Holocaust." - Megan Lehmann, The Hollywood Reporter
"Tense and unrelentingly gripping." - Frank Hatherley, Screen Daily
"EXTRAORDINARY." - Eric Kohn, Indiewire
Critics’ Pick! “Uniquely impressionistic, sensuous, and tense—a compelling, nightmarish fable about survival and identity.” - New York Magazine
“4 STARS! Brave, gripping, relentlessly absorbing…a Holocaust film unlike any other…emotionally overwhelming…Prepare to be moved to tears…It’s a remarkable accomplishment.” - Rex Reed, New York Observer
"Shortland draws fine work from her actors, particularly the haunting Rosendahl, who manages to seem by turns a perfectly unbending Nazi youth, a frightened little girl forced to grow up too quickly, and a sensuous young woman bursting into bloom." - Scott Foundas, Village Voice
"Shortland’s brilliant new film is an unsettling coming-of-age story that renders its judgement on Germany’s crimes and strange aftermath of the war." - George Robinson, The Jewish Week
"Australian director Cate Shortland’s straightforward approach to the blinders worn by Hitler Youth creates a disconcerting and eerie film, made even more memorable since it’s seen through the prism of childhood’s end." - Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News
4 STARS "Riveting stuff, start to finish. Lore offers up lessons for all time." - Steven Boone, Chicago Sun-Times
"Saskia Rosendahl is a terrific performer, tough and honest to the last." - Michael Philips, Chicago Tribune
Awards
- Winner! Locarno Film Festival 2012 - Audience Award
- Winner! Hamptons International Film Festival 2012 - Best Cinematography
- Winner! Hamptons International Film Festival 2012 - Best Narrative Feature
- Winner! Hamptons International Film Festival 2012 - Jeremy Nussbaum Prize for Provocative Fiction
- Nominated for 8 Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards
Cast & Crew
Cast
Lore: Saskia Rosendahl
Thomas: Kai Malina
Liesel: Nele Trebs
Mutti: Ursina Lardi
Vati: Hans-Jochen Wagner
Jürgen: Mika Seidel
Günter: André Frid
Omi: Eva-Maria Hagen
Crew
Director: Cate ShortlandProducers: Karsten Stotter, Liz Watts, Paul Welsh, Benny Dreschel
Writers: Cate Shortland, Robin Mukherjee, based on the novel "The Dark Room" by Rachel Seiffert
Cinematographer: Adam Arkapaw
Editor: Veronica Jenet, ASE
Composer: Max Richter
Technical Info
Production Year: 2012Release Date: 02/08/13
Countries of Production: Australia, Germany
Languages: German
Running Time: 1h 48m
Screen Ratio: 1.85:1
Sound: Dolby
Color: Color
Rating: Unrated
News & Press
From the Blog
‘LORE’ star Saskia Rosendahl named Berlin Shooting Star by Variety [1/30/2012]
Cate Shortland wins Best New Director Award at Valladolid for ‘Lore’ [11/17/2012]
‘LORE’ director Cate Shortland interviewed by BFI & UK Jewish Film Festival [11/2/2012]
IndieWire picks ‘Lore’ as one of their top 5 films to see at the Locarno Film Festival [8/2/2012]
Theaters
Lore - Press Page
Awards
- Winner! Locarno Film Festival 2012 - Audience Award
- Winner! Hamptons International Film Festival 2012 - Best Cinematography
- Winner! Hamptons International Film Festival 2012 - Best Narrative Feature
- Winner! Hamptons International Film Festival 2012 - Jeremy Nussbaum Prize for Provocative Fiction
- Nominated for 8 Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards
Reactions
"Intense and emotional. Saskia Rosendahl is mesmerizing." - Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
"Critic's Pick!" - New York Times
“Cate Shortland’s promise is amply, even startlingly, fulfilled.” - Joe Morgenstern, The Wall Street Journal
"A lyrical, deeply affecting study into a rarely seen legacy of the Holocaust." - Megan Lehmann, The Hollywood Reporter
"Tense and unrelentingly gripping." - Frank Hatherley, Screen Daily
"EXTRAORDINARY." - Eric Kohn, Indiewire
Critics’ Pick! “Uniquely impressionistic, sensuous, and tense—a compelling, nightmarish fable about survival and identity.” - New York Magazine
“4 STARS! Brave, gripping, relentlessly absorbing…a Holocaust film unlike any other…emotionally overwhelming…Prepare to be moved to tears…It’s a remarkable accomplishment.” - Rex Reed, New York Observer
"Shortland draws fine work from her actors, particularly the haunting Rosendahl, who manages to seem by turns a perfectly unbending Nazi youth, a frightened little girl forced to grow up too quickly, and a sensuous young woman bursting into bloom." - Scott Foundas, Village Voice
"Shortland’s brilliant new film is an unsettling coming-of-age story that renders its judgement on Germany’s crimes and strange aftermath of the war." - George Robinson, The Jewish Week
"Australian director Cate Shortland’s straightforward approach to the blinders worn by Hitler Youth creates a disconcerting and eerie film, made even more memorable since it’s seen through the prism of childhood’s end." - Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News
4 STARS "Riveting stuff, start to finish. Lore offers up lessons for all time." - Steven Boone, Chicago Sun-Times
"Saskia Rosendahl is a terrific performer, tough and honest to the last." - Michael Philips, Chicago Tribune
Detailed Film Info
Left to fend for themselves after their SS officer father and mother, a staunch Nazi believer, are interred by the victorious Allies at the end of World War II, five German children undertake a harrowing journey that exposes them to the reality and consequences of their parents' actions. Led by the eldest sibling, 14-year old Lore (striking newcomer Saskia Rosendahl), they set out on a harrowing journey across a devastated country to reach their grandmother in the north. After meeting the charismatic Thomas, a mysterious young refugee, Lore soon finds her world shattered by feelings of both hatred and desire as she must learn to trust the one person she has always been taught to hate in order to survive. Lush cinematography and an evocative, haunting mood infuse this unconventional take on the Holocaust legacy with unforgettable impact.Related Films
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