In Another Lifetime (Vielleicht in Einem Anderen Leben)

An EPO Film, Mythberg Films and Filmline production. Created by Dieter Pochlatko, Nikolaus Wisiak, Jozsef Berger, Arno Ortmair. Directed by Elisabeth Scharang. Script, Silke Hassler, Peter Turrini, Scharang, in line with the stage play "Jedem das Seine" by Hassler and Turrini.With: Ursula Strauss, Johannes Krisch, Peter Vegh, Orsolya Toth, Franziska Singer, August Schmolzer, Rafael Goldwaser, Thomas Franzel, Rainer Egger, Laszlo Nadasi, Ildiko Dobos, Kalman Koblicska, Joachim Bissmeier, Alexander Meile. (German, Hungarian dialogue)Austrian docu/telepic helmer Elisabeth Scharang's first theatrical feature, microcosmic World war 2 drama "In Another Lifetime," targets several Hungarian Jews on the way to a dying camping, as well as their reluctant owners, who both have the ability to re-awaken the humanity in one another. With different play, the pic can't always escape a residual air of theatricality -- particularly since a lot of the experience happens in one interior -- yet it nonetheless constitutes a poignant, sometimes poetical impression. Exposure is going to be modest outdoors home areas, with quality tube sales likely. The film's most motion picture passages are in the beginning, as a number of sweeping aerial shots choose a bedraggled group being marched over the Austrian countryside. Whenever a military pilot above absently tosses a gum wrapper out his window, it floats lower to land beside one exhausted deportee, to whom its residual scent now comprises an uncommon luxury. A dazed, seniors captive hobbles off right into a nearby area, and it is delicately shot dead through the bored youthful SS officer (Alexander Meile) in command. That leaves 19 still alive within the quickly diminishing group. As the officer makes themself in your own home for a night or two within the manse of local gentry, he's the criminals located in the barn of villager Stefan (Johannes Krisch), who's been surly, and wife Traudl (Ursula Strauss) grimly quiet, since their only boy was wiped out in fight. Nonetheless, some residual empathy stirs in her own when she realizes their undesirable visitors are falling apart from insufficient water and food. Despite orders to not interfere, she and bubbly youthful hireling Poldi (Franziska Singer) go into the barn with your provisions as they possibly can scrounge up. Stunned with this simple kindness, operatic tenor Lou (Peter Vegh) -- still clad within the tatters from the stage costume he was putting on when arrested -- rashly proposes the criminals stage an operetta as because of their hosts. Let alone that no other medication is professional entertainers, or this grandiose notion never appears to encompass a lot more than testing of merely one waltz tune it is the believed that counts. Already on questionable ground using the Nazi-sympathizing townsmen for holding Jews (although against his will), Stefan is in the beginning angered by his wife's actions. But following a couple of swigs from the hidden beer stash, he's within the mood to provide fine accompaniment on accordion towards the prison band. Meanwhile, news ebbs using that Berlin continues to be taken, and also the war may finally be visiting an finish. But a cruelly sobering final twist is then a memorably stark single-shot epilogue (though one whose precise significance might escape some audiences). Scharang's directorial restraint sensibly downplays the maudlin "Let us placed on a show" uplift from the narrative by watching myriad small, everyday moments that take us outdoors the barn as frequently as you possibly can. Well-behaved pic is decently scaly but nicely crafted in most departments.Camera (color), Jean-Claude Larrieu editor, Alarich Lenz music, Thomas Jarmer production designer, Alexandra Maringer costume designer, Margit Salzinger seem (Dolby Digital), William Edouard Franck re-recording mixer, Rob Thiekkotter assistant director, Fritz Noltmann casting, Carmen Loley, Markus Schleinzer. Examined at Bay Area Jewish Film Festival, This summer 26, 2011. (Also in Munich Film Festival.)Running time: 92 MIN. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com