The German entry for the 2026 Oscars is a bold choice by the German jury. After all, "Sound of Falling" is much more arthouse-oriented than the German entries of previous years. The drama, told across four time periods, is set on a farm in the Altmark region of my home state of Saxony-Anhalt. Specifically, it follows women/girls in the 1910s, 1940s, and 1980s, as well as in the present day, in a non-linear fashion. And the lives of the protagonists are connected in a certain way. What you shouldn't expect, however, is a classically structured plot. Instead, the narrative is pieced together like a puzzle, regularly jumping back and forth between the different time periods. The focus is primarily on themes that affect the lives of the adolescent protagonists, such as dealing with death and parental expectations, but also topics such as sexual abuse and depression. Those who need lighthearted moments in their films will rarely find them here. In terms of the production, director Mascha Schilinski has done a remarkable job. The camera work provides variety in the limited setting, and the different eras are also sufficiently distinct from a visual perspective. However, the most powerful element is the use of sound. The sound design is an essential link between the individual stories and allows the viewer to participate in the inner lives of the characters. Overall, I really liked "Sound of Falling," even though I usually prefer a classic narrative structure. However, I found the decision to adopt a non-linear approach to be quite effective; the acting is strong, and despite the film's runtime of 149 minutes, which is not particularly short, the film flew by. I am certainly curious to see if it will be enough for an Oscar nomination in the end. I think the film probably deserves it.

Tedious arty mess that stole 2 1/2 hours of my life and subjected me to a German's love for depressing vignettes of equally depressed parents, children and a host of others dragging themselves through life. By all means watch it.

Really can't get over this film

A movie and a half