Overview
A young girl must confront the dark truths of her upbringing amidst the chaos of war.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- disturbing
- ominous
- melancholic
- serious historical viewing
- arthouse film night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised Cate Shortland's disturbing World War II drama for its ominous atmosphere, fractured imagery, and Saskia Rosendahl's assured lead performance.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Lore and her siblings gradually confront evidence that their parents' Nazi beliefs were fundamentally false.
The siblings must survive Germany's collapse while carrying the ideological inheritance of their parents.
Critics specifically identify the film's fractured imagery as a mirror of moral dislocation during the children's journey.
Lore relies on the mysterious refugee Thomas despite having been taught to hate people like him.
Films like Lore, and why
The White Ribbon
shared postwar moral dislocation, child-centered perspective, and austere historical drama
Germany Year Zero
shared World War II aftermath, compromised innocence, and bleakly contemplative atmosphere
Ivan's Childhood
shared children in wartime, ideological awakening, and emotionally harrowing historical realism
The Zone of Interest
shared Holocaust-era persecution, morally complex survival, and subdued European art-house style
Movie Details
- Director
- Cate Shortland
- Release Date
- 2012-09-20
- Runtime
- 109 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (323)
Cast
- Saskia Rosendahl
- Kai-Peter Malina
- Nele Trebs
- Ursina Lardi
- Hans-Jochen Wagner
- Mika Seidel
- André Frid
- Eva-Maria Hagen
- Mike Veidner
- Nick Holaschke
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Philo, OVID, Fandor Amazon Channel, Metrograph, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Cineverse Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Lore about?
- A Nazi-raised girl shepherds her siblings through defeated Germany, where survival depends on confronting the lies that shaped their family.
- What is Lore like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Lore as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Lore violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Lore as moderate.
- What did critics think of Lore?
- Critics broadly praised Cate Shortland's disturbing World War II drama for its ominous atmosphere, fractured imagery, and Saskia Rosendahl's assured lead performance.
- Which films are like Lore?
- Films with a similar feel include The White Ribbon, Germany Year Zero, Ivan's Childhood, and The Zone of Interest.
- How long is Lore?
- Lore runs 109 minutes.
- Where can I watch Lore?
- In United States, Lore streams on Amazon Prime Video, Philo, OVID, Fandor Amazon Channel, Metrograph, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Cineverse Amazon Channel.
