German Film: Das finstere Tal (The Dark Valley)

Movie screening || In German with English subtitles || All interested are welcome!
 

Das finstere Tal (The Dark Valley) || 2014 || Directed by Andreas Prochaska
 

Yes, an Alpine Western! Selected as the Austrian entry for Best Foreign Language Film at the 87th Academy Awards.

With Sam Riley, Paula Beer, Tobias Moretti, Carmen Gratl, Hans-Michael Rehberg, and Thomas Schubert

A solitary, tight-lipped stranger rides into a remote Austrian mountain village in the late 19th century. Nobody knows where he is from and nobody wants him to stay around. This American interloper has vengeance in mind against a sadistic clan and its godfather -- we know how that story will evolve and end. The Hollywood western ancestry is evident, borrowing from High Noon, Unforgiven and, of course, High Plains Drifter. The scenery: a starkly beautiful palette worthy of a Dutch master frames snowy mountain vistas in dark wood and earth tones that almost appear monochrome. Scant psychological depth; no shock twists and not much new is added to the most elemental of this movie genre besides its alpine setting. But it looks terrific and entertaining!

Please note that this is a Wednesday evening screening.