Hanna's Sleeping Dogs

A masterful blend of history and personal narrative, Hanna's Sleeping Dogs is a cinematic gem worth seeing. Directed by Andreas Gruber, and released in 2016, the film views the complexities of the human past through the eyes of a young girl named Johanna (Nike Seitz) growing up in a small town in Austria. The film unearths the drastic turns of history, convoluted pasts, and individual stories that are often lost in the grand narratives provided by textbooks.

Hanna's Sleeping Dogs is based on the semi-autobiographical novel by Elisabeth Escher, "Johannas Traum". The narrative opens up in the year 1967, with nine-year-old Johanna discovering her family's mysterious past. After making her first communion, she is mystified by her change in name from Rakowitz to Morak. This leads the innocent girl to begin a journey that painfully peels back the layers of her family's past, one shrouded in mystery and buried secrets.

The primary backdrop of the film is Linz, Austria – a town divided by its history, its resident's memories and the haunting specter of the past. As Johanna’s upbringing in Linz unfolds, she slowly starts to build a picture of her family history, taking on the magnitude of her daunting quest of self-discovery that intrinsively bothers her. Her world is shaken when she learns about the dark secret her family has been choosing to forget – they are Jews who have been hiding their identity in a town that under Nazi rule, played a significant part in the Holocaust.

One of the prominent figures in this not-so-simple narrative is Johanna's mother, Ruth, played by the legendary Hannelore Elsner. As Ruth, Elsner delivers a versatile performance – emotionally tumultuous and visibly tormented. She is introduced as a woman grappling with her haunted past, torn by the fear of revealing her identity and the guilt of veiling it. Ruth, herself is a sleeping dog, a dormant volcano of emotions and pain and Elsner’s portrayal adds depth to the character.

Franziska Weisz, who plays the older version of Johanna, captures the trauma of a young girl trying to reconcile her family's dark history. Her performance is subtle yet emotive, and reflects the inner turmoil her character goes through as she pieces together her family’s past. Nike Seitz, the younger Johanna, is equally compelling, portraying an innocent girl grappling with complexities beyond her age. Seitz brings a certain innocence and confusion to her role that makes Johanna's character truly captivating and relatable.

Equally evocative is the cinematography by Konstantin Kröning. The heartbreaks, joys, and tranquil everyday life of Austria in the 20th century are vividly captured in every frame. Each scene is not just meticulously shot but thoughtfully crafted — the bowl of soup on the dinner table or the rustling leaves in the old Jewish cemetery, echoing the melancholy of forgotten souls.

Gruber's direction is thought-provoking, and he expertly weaves a narrative that digs deep into the human psyche, confronting the agonies and dilemmas of those who survived the war but lost themselves in the process. Also noteworthy is the beautiful music by Matthias Weber that greatly compliments the film’s emotionally charged ambiance.

Hanna's Sleeping Dogs is a tale of exploring one's identity and roots. It sensitively portrays the turmoil of an innocent child coming to terms with her family's traumatic past and her own concealed Jewish identity. The film is a deep exploration of the haunting past and its impact on the present and future of individuals and communities. It is a masterfully constructed family story, a visual narrative that documents the dark and complex times during and after World War II and one family’s conflicting journey of self-realization.

In conclusion, this movie will appeals to a variety of audiences. Moviegoers seeking a film that delves deep into personal histories set against the backdrop of world war, individuals interested in psychological dramas, and history enthusiasts, will undeniably find Hanna's Sleeping Dogs a heart-tugging masterpiece that redefines the perception of history and memory. The compelling performances, top-notch cinematography and evocative storytelling make this movie an unforgettable journey towards discovering one's past and the inherent need for identity.