Subtitled films are often ignored by the general public because they may seem quite intimidating. Even though subtitled films in alien languages do require a slight effort to grasp what’s happening on the screen, they can still give a glimpse of different visions, cultures and ways of life. Or, on the contrary, they can reveal that despite the differences, we are all human beings seeking love and support. This is one of the things about which Andreas Dresden’s heart-wrecking German drama teaches us.
Frank Lange’s (Milan Peschel) quiet suburban life with his loving wife and two children suddenly falls apart when he finds out that he only has a couple of months to live because of an inoperable brain tumour. While fighting with growing pain and weakness Frank has to face his own mortality. However he is not the only one who suffers. His wife, Simone (Steffi Kuhnert), has to cope with an overwhelming grief and a feeling of powerlessness before the inevitable. But with the help of unconditional love and sometimes healthcare workers, she manages to bear with her husband’s decline and at the same time comfort him in the face of death.
This story of an ordinary family facing a terminal disease is far from being joyful and life-assuring. But it is not what it is about. Stopped on Track is an honest and brutally realistic drama that focuses on the event that is unfortunately not that uncommon in real life. But nevertheless it reveals great potential for being humane and compassionate of that we are often unaware.
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