Never Look Away (2019): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Never Look Away is a 2019 drama thriller directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, starring Tom Schilling as Kurt Barnert, Cai Cohrs and Paula Beer. It runs 3 hours 9 minutes and earned $6.2 million worldwide on a $18 million budget. It was nominated for 2 Oscars. Critics gave it 77% on Rotten Tomatoes and 68 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.7/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 3h 9m (189 min)
- Director
- Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
- Original language
-
German
- Studio
- Sony Pictures Classics
- Budget
- $18M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Never Look Away About?
The premise of Never Look Away without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A young artist, Kurt Barnert, confronts the lingering effects of Germany's Nazi and GDR pasts. Seeking refuge in art and love, he creates emotionally charged paintings that capture the pain of his generation. As Kurt develops a relationship with student Ellie, his artwork becomes a powerful reflection of the complexities of German history and a testament to the enduring strength of the human spirit.
Never Look Away Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- east germany
- art
- sex scene
- forced abortion
- pregnancy
- struggling artist
- romantic relationship
- loss of aunt
- artist
- art gallery
- gas chamber
- mural
+38 more Show fewer
- abortion
- father in law son in law relationship
- aunt nephew relationship
- female full frontal nudity
- female pubic hair
- nazi doctor
- modern art
- art exhibition
- forced sterilization
- miscarriage
- sex against a wall
- naked man jumps out a window
- 1930s
- 1940s
- 1950s
- 1960s
- man running naked
- couple fooling around naked in bed
- female rear nudity
- death of father
- communism
- eugenics
- male nudity
- female nudity
- nazism
- ss
- berlin wall
- professor
- degenerate art
- gynecologist
- interrogation
- soviet officer
- sign painter
- art academy
- art student
- suicide by hanging
- infidelity
- portrait painting
Never Look Away Cast & Characters
Tom Schilling leads the cast as Kurt Barnert, with Cai Cohrs as Kurt Barnert 6 Jahre and Paula Beer as Ellie Seeband. Directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck; 10 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
- Tom Schilling as Kurt Barnert
- Cai Cohrs as Kurt Barnert 6 Jahre
-
Paula Beer as Ellie Seeband -
Sebastian Koch as Professor Carl Seeband
Also Starring in Never Look Away
· 6 more- Ina Weisse Martha Seeband
- Oliver Masucci Professor Antonius van Verten
- Saskia Rosendahl Elisabeth May
- Ulrike C. Tscharre Frau Hellthaler
- Mark Zak
- Yevgeni Sidikhin
More from Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
More films directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, best-rated first: The Lives of Others, The Tourist and Der Templer.
Never Look Away Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Never Look Away 77% on Rotten Tomatoes and 68 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.7/10. Our Echo Score gives it 72/100, strongest in art & craft (85) and weakest in story & flow (62).
Never Look Away Echo Score Breakdown
In overall terms, Never Look Away delivers a visually compelling but unevenly paced biographical drama. The direction and cinematography earn consistent acclaim for their measured compositions and rich framing, while the narrative ambition elicits both admiration for its scope and criticism for indulgent runtime. Character portrayals are generally competent yet occasionally lack emotional resonance, and the thematic exploration of art captivates intermittently. The film’s strengths in craft and sensory impact outweigh its narrative sluggishness, resulting in a moderately positive but imperfect impression.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 85
In terms of art and craft, the film excels with assured direction and polished visual composition. Observers highlight Deschanel’s unfussy approach and Caleb Deschanel’s cinematography for their elegant framing and atmospheric depth. Production design and editing consistently reinforce the period setting without drawing overt attention. Overall, the film’s visual execution stands out as a key asset.
- Character & Emotion 65
When it comes to character and emotion, performances are generally competent but sometimes fail to generate consistent resonance. Critics and viewers note effective depiction of artistic ambition and interpersonal dynamics, yet Tom Schilling’s central portrayal is occasionally perceived as uncertain, and romantic chemistry lacks rawness. These fluctuations lead to uneven emotional connection throughout the narrative.
- Story & Flow 62
In terms of story and flow, the narrative is ambitious in scope but suffers from extended pacing. The film’s exploration of artistic evolution and historical context receives praise for thematic depth, yet its three-hour plus runtime and a diffuse conclusion invite criticism for indulgence and a lack of clear closure. Consequently, narrative momentum feels intermittent.
- Sensory Experience 80
When evaluating sensory experience, the film offers a compelling audiovisual landscape. Reviewers highlight mesmerizing cinematography and a balanced score that augment atmospheric immersion. Sound design and visual style cohere to evoke period authenticity without overwhelming narrative clarity. Overall, the film’s sensory dimensions significantly enhance its immersive qualities.
- Rewatch Factor 70
As for rewatch factor, the film’s immersive visuals and thematic richness encourage repeat viewings among art enthusiasts. However, the extensive runtime and uneven pacing may deter audiences from revisiting the experience frequently. While certain sequences retain strong appeal, the overall length and narrative density limit its consistent replay value.
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IMDb 7.7 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 77% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 87%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 68 Metascore
User score 7.9
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 78% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.9 /5
957 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 3.0 /5
See on Movie Insider
Never Look Away Plot Summary
What happens in Never Look Away from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
As Kurt Barnert, portrayed by Tom Schilling, embarks on a journey through the “Degenerate Art” exhibit in Dresden alongside his captivating aunt, Elisabeth, he becomes deeply fascinated by the avant-garde sculpture Girl with Blue Hair by Eugen Hoffmann. This pivotal moment occurs during the tumultuous days of Nazi Germany, setting the stage for a life-altering adventure.
Full summary
The whole story of Never Look Away, scene by scene
Never Look Away Box Office & Budget
Never Look Away grossed $6.2 million worldwide on a $18 million budget, 34% of what it cost. $1.3 million came from the US and Canada and $4.9 million (79%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$6.2M
34% of its budget back
- US & Canada
- $1.3M
- International
- $4.9M
- Budget
- $18M
Never Look Away Awards & Nominations
Never Look Away was nominated for 2 Oscars. The 3 nominations come from 2 ceremonies, the most at the Oscars 2019.
3 nominations2 ceremonies
-
Oscars 2019 2 nominations- Nominated Cinematography
- Nominated Foreign Language Film
-
Golden Globes 2019 1 nomination- Nominated Best Foreign Language Film
Never Look Away Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Never Look Away.
How Well Do You Know Never Look Away?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What inspires Kurt Barnert during his childhood visit to the 'Degenerate Art' exhibit?
Cars in Never Look Away
8 cars on screen, including the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro and the 2017 Porsche 911 Turbo Cabrio 991.2.
-
2016 Chevrolet Camaro Important role -
2017 Porsche 911 Turbo Cabrio 991.2 Important role -
1993 GMC CV200 Minor role -
2009 Ford Crown Victoria Background role
Never Look Away Also Known As
32 alternative titles, including “Произведение без автора” and “Une Œuvre sans auteur”.
- Also known as
-
- Произведение без автора
- Une Œuvre sans auteur
- L'oeuvre sans auteur
- Nunca Deixe de Lembrar
- 작가미상
- Nunca apartes la mirada
- SCAN'19: Kūrinys be autoriaus
- Работа без авторства
- 작가 미상
- La sombra del pasado
- Opera senza autore
- Робота без авторства
+20 more Show fewer
- Værk uden skaber
- 无主之作
- Asla Gözlerini Kaçırma
- L'Œuvre sans auteur
- 無主之作
- Mű szerző nélkül
- Nikdy neodvracaj zrak
- Nikdy neodvracej zrak
- Не отвръщай поглед
- Obrazy bez autora
- Μη Χαμηλώνεις το Βλέμμα
- L’ombra del passat
- Teos vailla tekijää
- Kūrinys be autoriaus
- Nu întoarce privirea!
- יצירה ללא מחבר
- Không Bao Giờ Rời Mắt
- Nekad nenovērsies
- Delo brez avtorja
- ある画家の数奇な運命
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Never Look Away FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Never Look Away, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Never Look Away?
Never Look Away runs 3 hours 9 minutes (189 minutes).
When was Never Look Away released?
Never Look Away was released on January 25, 2019.
Who directed Never Look Away?
Never Look Away was directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck.
More films by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck Who is in the cast of Never Look Away?
Never Look Away stars Tom Schilling as Kurt Barnert, Cai Cohrs as Kurt Barnert 6 Jahre and Paula Beer as Ellie Seeband, among 10 credited actors.
How much did Never Look Away make at the box office?
Never Look Away grossed $6.2 million worldwide ($1.3 million domestic, $4.9 million international) on a budget of $18 million.
How is Never Look Away rated?
Never Look Away has 7.7/10 on IMDb, 77% on Rotten Tomatoes, 68 on Metacritic and 78% on TMDB.
Was Never Look Away nominated for any awards?
Never Look Away received 3 nominations across 2 ceremonies.
Does Never Look Away have a post-credit scene?
No. Never Look Away has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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