This film portrays a somewhat banal and unoriginal story, but it does so with the help of a great atmosphere, cinematography, stunning landscapes, and Terrence Malick-like camera work, evoking a palpable sensation of the sun's warmth on your skin in Europe. While the themes it portrays - the banality of everyday life, and the prominence of other features over the central narrative - may not be groundbreaking, the film excels in its exploration of more nuanced aspects.
It delves into the meditative, almost hallucinatory quality of summers in the Alps, and how religion can permeate and shape a society. The film also captures the caress of the cool mountain breeze against your skin, even as you bundle up in warm layers to ward off the chill.
Moreover, it examines the mundane daily activities of a somewhat conservative family amid the Alpine setting, questioning whether the rigors of such a life tire the body and soul as they might in a snowy locale, or if the majesty of the Alps has a healing, divine effect, bringing one closer to God.
It delves into the meditative, almost hallucinatory quality of summers in the Alps, and how religion can permeate and shape a society. The film also captures the caress of the cool mountain breeze against your skin, even as you bundle up in warm layers to ward off the chill.
Moreover, it examines the mundane daily activities of a somewhat conservative family amid the Alpine setting, questioning whether the rigors of such a life tire the body and soul as they might in a snowy locale, or if the majesty of the Alps has a healing, divine effect, bringing one closer to God.