A Hidden Life: Telling the Story of Saints

Hagiography, accounts and legends of the lives of saints, has been a vital undertaking throughout the history of Christianity. Though it is not commonly practiced in the modern era, I argue in this video essay/analysis that A Hidden Life (2019) directed by Terrance Malick is surprisingly consistent with the spirit of Christian hagiography in how Malick goes about telling this story.
The film recounts the final years of Franz Jägerstätter, an Austrian conscientious objector during World War II who was martyred for refusing to swear loyalty to Hitler. Like so many saints, his life may be “hidden” by worldly standards, but he presents an admirable and convincing example for anyone striving to live with authentic, active faith. Jägerstätter was even officially beatified by the Catholic Church in 2007.
A Hidden Life, like all of Malick’s films, boasts an undeniable poetical and mythological quality. But I underline in my analysis a few particular features that are strikingly resonant with hagiography. The first is its portrayal of “the individual vs. the collective -- the way it celebrates, then inverts, veritably every communal relationship in Franz’s life. The second is the incredible number of parallels between Franz and the story of Christ that Malick highlights with intention.
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Introduction: Why Tell this Story?
01:13 A Hidden Life as Hagiography
03:37 The Individual vs. The Collective
08:00 An Incarnate Life
12:39 Conclusion: A Successful Saint
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*Sources
- The Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus (www.newadvent.org/fathers/010...)
- Hippolyte Delehaye, The Legends of the Saints: An Introduction to Hagiography (sourcebooks.fordham.edu/basis...)
- C.S. Lewis, God in the Dock: Essays on Theology and Ethics ( / 111563.god_in_the_dock )
- St. Justin Popovich, Orthodox Faith and Life in Christ ( / orthodox-faith-and-lif... )
- Carl Jung, Aion: Researches into the Phenomenology of the Self ( / 729924 )
- Carl Jung, The Symbolic Life: Miscellaneous Writings ( / 341602.the_symbolic_life )
*Music (Creative Commons Attribution)
- “Heimat” by Lebensessenz ( • Lebensessenz - Heimat )
- “Pachabelly” by Huma Huma ( • Huma Huma - Pachabell... )
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SEARCH TAGS - #terrencemalick #catholicsaints #hagiography, #ahiddenlife, Meaning of A Hidden Life, Terrance Malick hidden meaning, film analysis, film review, literary allusion in film, movie commentary, religion in film, philosophy movie, literature and film, symbolic analysis, symbolic world, church, village, ritual, nature, hierarchy, priest, bishop. Christian art, Christian movie analysis, Christianity in film, Catholicism, Catholic stories, Catholic literature, Catholic saints, Orthodox saints, Orthodox icons, iconography

[@peebone000]

No film has ever moved me as much as this one has. It’s like I want to share it with the world. I’ve never seen a greater demonstration of what happens when one truly takes up their cross.

[@markbollinger1343]

A Hidden Life is simply one of the most beautiful films I have ever seen. And not just for the cinematography. Blessed Franz Ora Pro Nobis

[@happycamper3561]

Frank was willing to give up everything worldly. He was not willing to lose His soul. He was not willing to cooperate with Satan. He is a true Christian and an inspiration.

[@oldmoviemusic]

This was incredibly well done. Your attention to the profundity of the film bears great humility and care. Thank you.

[@neilmurray6943]

So well put.

[@charleskimball2911]

All I can say is that we're rapidly approaching a time in which any given person will be faced with same fundamental choice that he was. Unless you're willing to die for the Gospel, you're not a true disciple. I just hope that I will be before the end.

[@JonathanAcierto]

I must say honestly I totally missed all the visual symbolism and the implied ideas of the voice overs. I'm simply not used to Terrence Malick's higher artistic cinematic language. Thank you for decoding the movie! I'll have a much higher appreciation of it now.

[@DelightLovesMovies]

I love Terrence Malick and his films. A Hidden Life is his best film.

[@AdrianTofei]

Absolutely incredible and divine analysis from a Christian perspective, both Orthodox and Catholic. I've watched it many times and it gave me tears as much as thinking of Franz & Fani's story did. And I must say everyone should watch this video even before watching the movie, otherwise they risk missing the essential and the divine in the movie, the way I missed it initially. Thank you for this! 🙏 By the way, the story of Franz and Fani resemble so much that of saints Adrian and Natalie. Franz and Fani supported each other in faith via letters till the last moment of Franz's martyrdom, just like Natalie supported Adrian throughout his ordeal up to final martyrdom.

[@ChiefAdmin1]

I much appreciate your analysis. You nailed it and really provoked reflection.

[@ContemplationsYT]

This made me cry even more than the film. Thank you!

[@noahv.8333]

Excellent video! This was the definitely the best analysis of this movie I've seen to date.

[@longcastle4863]

The Christian church in America needs to watch this movie.

[@bimonsolivar8898]

It is also true that if all German soldiers had resisted the way Franz did, the Nazis would never have been able to start that terrible war!

[@lisaonthemargins]

Really beautiful. Thank you for your perspective

[@moonlightingenglishteacher]

Thanks so much!

[@thegoldenthread]

Beautiful and insightful. Thank you for your efforts.

[@sebasquik]

Just amazing !!

[@mement0_m0ri]

Wonderfully done analysis! Thank you for this.

[@fierce_foxx4633]

Thank you for this, so long as one person recognizes Goodness, Truth and Beauty so will the world be saved.

[@paddyearly]

Franz is such a shining example of the awesome power of resistance to tyranny🙏 Your analysis is superb and helps to propel this wonderful hero’s story and confirm the power of the film🙏 Hero’s like this are timeless heroes whose story is eternal whereas the bullies like Hitler and those who financed his reign of terror are exposed as enemies of the people and of Jesus the Saviour🙏 Throughout history there are so few true heroes but Franz is in the vanguard of wonderful martyrs like Thomas More, Maximilian Kolbe, and Fr. Franz Rheinich who was also an inspiring figure for Franz🙏 His wife was also an awesome woman and despite such loss in her life she lived to ripe old age🙏 The film A Hidden Life is so powerful and inspiring🙏

[@Theowlhawk]

Very moved by this film, very powerful ❤

[@conniewaterman1673]

I cannot wait to see this film. This reminds me of Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand. Stories about real people teach us to ask ourselves, "What would I do in this situation?" We are all facing hard times and difficult decisions ahead. For me, I have thought long and hard about what I would do. It makes a difference knowing ahead of time what choices we will make.

[@kurtkrause7151]

There has always been, and always will be, a few who, regardless which sacred order takes the credit, will be serving a 'higher' Order. 🕊🙏

[@juanis8219]

This analysis was excellent. Thank you for presenting this. Such a shame its gone without more recognition.

[@Cha4k]

Feels like its all happening again.

[@j.t.lumberjack7943]

I was blessed by this film. Challenged by this film. I was also blessed and challenged by your review here. Thank you.!

[@janehall3271]

Thank you for this!!! So beautiful!!

[@surferatapollobay1341]

Similar to story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. very challenging

[@darinboyer6085]

What a beautifully done video, very inspiring.

[@lorenatabares247]

What an excellent analysis and video! Thank you for sharing it! God bless!

[@shinrin-yoku3877]

Imagine had he listened to his priest and bishop we would have never heard of his story

[@jingalls9142]

So don't ever listen to clergy? I agree wholeheartedly.

[@markhyman8381]

Superbly analyzed!

[@MarcumDavid]

This was an awesome examination. Thank you for your work!

[@moonlightingenglishteacher]

Thanks so much!

[@captainyossarian388]

As the bard said so well, "This above all, to thine own self be true." However I think that the religion doesn't define the objector. It's a person being true to higher moral principles and obligations of goodness, regardless of their religious beliefs. And as the painter put it, "Christ's life is a demand." That demand was to live up to your goodness, even in the toughest of times.

[@maddssmithy]

This was a beautiful film and I really enjoyed your video essay. Just subscribed because of it.

[@joerodriguez7317]

Thank you for this video.

[@andreashotte5307]

A Man Who Remained Loyal Out Of Conviction Even Though Things Were Bad At The Time

[@watchaddicts1213]

Bravo! Christ have mercy on us all.

[@Emmanuel.076]

Really, thank you for your work, I would love bring your content to the Spanish world, it is so needed! If one day you want to do it, I help you

[@OldBluesChapterandVerse]

This is a lovely reflection. Thank you for it. I recently watched A Hidden Life for the third time, and while I thought it a remarkable work of cinema the first two times I watched it, it bloomed in unexpected ways on that third viewing. I do, however, have to point out that George Eliot was a woman. And you should correct the spelling of Malick’s name in the hashtag naming him, so people can more easily find your video.

[@moonlightingenglishteacher]

So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for the encouragement and for those two (very true) points of critique!

[@OldBluesChapterandVerse]

@@moonlightingenglishteacher It really is a great video, so feel encouraged. It strikes the kind of tone one too rarely sees on KZbin. It’s interesting to me to consider the film as hagiography, as I typically dislike the genre - most examples of it ignore the flaws and foibles, the humanity, in their subjects. But Malick manages to juggle awe and admiration with quotidian, simply human revelation.

[@shamanictour]

Really good work.

[@moonlightingenglishteacher]

Thanks a lot!

[@davidpopaart]

Sensational 🙌

[@shinrin-yoku3877]

Wow wow wow. " they did not have the grace" 🕊️

[@MaddenScience]

Beautiful

[@agustinbriceno7428]

EXCELENTE esto está demasiado bueno, y muy necesario, realmente el corazón del seguimiento a Cristo y el ser católico es el alter christo, ser otro cristo y ahí es donde se hace agua lodo. las palabras tienen que hacerse realidad. y ahi doblamos por otros caminos. Gracias por hacer excelente cine y demasiado real las decisiones son difíciles pero demasiado importantes para no pensar en ellas. que haría yo si estoy en esa situación, o lo que Dios tenga preparado para mi y mi familia, en estos días. y los que vienen. tendré la fé y la confianza suficientes?............... ...AUSGEZEICHNET, das ist zu gut und sehr notwendig, wirklich das Herzstück der Nachfolge Christi und des Katholischseins ist der Alter Christo, ein anderer Christus zu sein, und dort kocht der Schlamm. Worte müssen wahr werden. und dort wenden wir uns anderen Pfaden zu. Vielen Dank, dass Sie exzellentes und zu reales Kino machen. Entscheidungen sind schwierig, aber zu wichtig, um nicht darüber nachzudenken. Was würde ich tun, wenn ich in dieser Situation wäre, oder was Gott in diesen Tagen für mich und meine Familie vorbereitet hat. und die, die kommen. Werde ich genug Glauben und Vertrauen haben?........훌륭합니다. 이것은 너무 좋고 매우 필요합니다. 실제로 그리스도를 따르고 가톨릭 신자가 되는 핵심은 또 다른 그리스도가 되는 또 다른 그리스도가 되는 것입니다. 말이 맞아야 합니다. 그리고 거기에서 우리는 다른 길로 돌립니다. 훌륭하고 너무 리얼한 영화에 감사드립니다. 결정은 어렵지만 생각하지 않기에는 너무 중요합니다. 내가 그 상황에 처했다면, 또는 하나님께서 요즘 나와 내 가족을 위해 준비하신 것이 있다면 어떻게 하시겠습니까? 그리고 오는 사람들. 나는 충분한 믿음과 신뢰를 가질 수 있습니까?

[@noelaxton4941]

Thankyou.

[@Mike_v_E]

Well spoken. Thanks for the insights

[@ЛохматыйШмель]

Шикарный фильм! После просмотра он не отпускает. Правда, тюрма, пытки и лишения показаны как то очень мягко, в тёплых солнечных тонах. Слишком красивые места заключения. По нашим меркам - курорт 😂. Но все остальное, это сосхождение на Голгофу

[@remydaitch9815]

Family, Country, The Light

[@joshua_finch]

Great stuff. Jagerstatter would be recognized by Orthodox Christianity as well I have no doubt but the Roman Catholic schism from us has caused some (unavoidable) negligence of his case it seems.

[@davida.c.9228]

Very good video! I would like to ask you what method you use to find the background music (I think it fits perfectly) how do you look for that music on KZbin? Thanks.

[@cripplehawk]

This film has 2 Austrian Painters. One at 0:31 and the other?.....

[@milangurin1815]

Germany? Austria

[@chadparsons50]

Um, George Elliott was the pen name for a woman (Mary Ann Evans).

[@moonlightingenglishteacher]

Yup, that was my bad

[@chadparsons50]

@@moonlightingenglishteacher sorry, rereading that, I came off as condescending, my apologies.

[@moonlightingenglishteacher]

No worries! :) @@chadparsons50

[@nbattag]

Great film. FYI George Eliot is a woman; it’s the pen name of Mary Ann Evans.

[@moonlightingenglishteacher]

Yup, that was my goof!

[@igormilosavljevic7304]

Love your analysis but disagree with last statement as only Christ can forgive our sins and is the only one interceding on our behalf. Franz is awaiting the resurrection as are all Gods children on that glorious day according to the scriptures. Blessings.

[@HolySpiritFire888]

The catholic church has no right to claim Franz as one of their own heroes. They as an institution did not stand up to Hitler. Franz stood up against the nazis as an individual believer in Christ. He and God together get the credit alone. Catholic church sit down and be quiet.

[@aceraphael]

Please get informed.

[@jl2dobrzyn]

Thank you for that imbecilic comment. We now know to avoid any future comments from you. Feel free to rejoin the conversation when you grow up and educate yourself.

[@simonsirois9034]

I don't know if the guy was a saint or a coward, both perception could hold up if you argue it. The theme of the film can bring a personnal reflexion to anyone, though. Sometimes, you become opposed to your environnement or some of the social beliefs around you. But something inside you says it's not right, you have to listen to it and not necesssarily follow the herd. When your motivations are "pure", I mean you have taken time to reflect on it and it's not motivated by fear, personnal gain or anger. These things are clouds to make honest and good decisions. Sometimes, you just know you're right. You should follow your heart. It's the right decision for you. But you need to take time to reflect on what motivates you, 99% of the time you won't go wrong! I saw this film, and frankly i was "meh". I will give it a second view cause I really missed what the film was about. Really nice video, ty for that analysis.

[@ambroiserobet]

here, are you vaxx ?

[@theloudcry3494]

This movie is promoting SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS 😤 => one must never forget, that if mankind could have earned any righteous "points" with God, and pay his/her way to heaven, Jesus didn't have to come, be born, live a righteous life, die our substitute, ... and now, be our Mediator before God the Father. Leave it to human "inteligence"...😲

[@josephbingham1255]

Saw it. Not worth 3 out of 4 stars.

[@wm5994]

He wasn't a saint. He just didn't want to fight. He wanted to keep his idyllic life intact and apart from any war, and he did it at the expense of his wife, kids, mother and sister-in-law. Eventually, the characters begin to lose faith in God and think God is doing nothing. But this man was given chance after chance after chance to just sign the paper and he would not. So he was executed. Everyone knew that was going to happen. He was stubborn and selfish, not a saint.

[@migjager7352]

Excuse me, Herr Hauptscharführer, but the Greifkommando is ready and awaiting your orders, sir.

[@braneenie]

If everyone had done what Franz had done .... Hitler would not have been able to do anything. Now compare that to what you are saying. What he did was absolutely heroic. There is a cost though ... always a cost.

[@beccalowry6437]

Selfish for refusing to say he’d follow Hitler? Wow…

[@scottanderson8099]

“He don’t want to fight” and?… He didn’t let a massive and evil power structure dictate his action and understanding of good? Good is an objective truth regardless of society, government or your subjective understanding. I see his story as a relentless pursuit of truth “good” regardless of any malicious coercion, and at the expense of his own well being. I’m not sure how that doesn’t define a saint.

[@josedavila]

EXCELENTE esto está demasiado bueno, y muy necesario, realmente el corazón del seguimiento a Cristo y el ser católico es el alter christo, ser otro cristo y ahí es donde se hace agua lodo. las palabras tienen que hacerse realidad. y ahi doblamos por otros caminos. Gracias por hacer excelente cine y demasiado real las decisiones son difíciles pero demasiado importantes para no pensar en ellas. que haría yo si estoy en esa situación, o lo que Dios tenga preparado para mi y mi familia, en estos días. y los que vienen. tendré la fé y la confianza suficientes?............... ...AUSGEZEICHNET, das ist zu gut und sehr notwendig, wirklich das Herzstück der Nachfolge Christi und des Katholischseins ist der Alter Christo, ein anderer Christus zu sein, und dort kocht der Schlamm. Worte müssen wahr werden. und dort wenden wir uns anderen Pfaden zu. Vielen Dank, dass Sie exzellentes und zu reales Kino machen. Entscheidungen sind schwierig, aber zu wichtig, um nicht darüber nachzudenken. Was würde ich tun, wenn ich in dieser Situation wäre, oder was Gott in diesen Tagen für mich und meine Familie vorbereitet hat. und die, die kommen. Werde ich genug Glauben und Vertrauen haben?........훌륭합니다. 이것은 너무 좋고 매우 필요합니다. 실제로 그리스도를 따르고 가톨릭 신자가 되는 핵심은 또 다른 그리스도가 되는 또 다른 그리스도가 되는 것입니다. 말이 맞아야 합니다. 그리고 거기에서 우리는 다른 길로 돌립니다. 훌륭하고 너무 리얼한 영화에 감사드립니다. 결정은 어렵지만 생각하지 않기에는 너무 중요합니다. 내가 그 상황에 처했다면, 또는 하나님께서 요즘 나와 내 가족을 위해 준비하신 것이 있다면 어떻게 하시겠습니까? 그리고 오는 사람들. 나는 충분한 믿음과 신뢰를 가질 수 있습니까?