The Optimist: The Bravest Act Is Truth
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Cast
- Stephen Lang
- Elsie Fisher
- Luke David Blumm
- Robin Weigert
- Slavko Sobin
- Stella Stocker
- Oskar Hes
- Albie Brown
- Nicholas Bustamante
- Nate Duncan
Letterboxd User Reviews
- Feb 17, 2026
Holocaust stories come at a price, for some, it's remembrance of suffering, for others, it's a liberation from long held secrets. Herbert Heller finally tells his story, after 60 years. At the onset of WWII, as a Check Jew, he and his family were transported from Prague to…
Des SaintOct 14, 20232nd drafts are very important.
Zach WinsorFeb 1, 2026The portion of the film set in the 1940s was easily something I'd consider good. The problem is this movie constantly jumps back and forth in time and it was jarring to the narrative. I didn't care much for the modern day story and I'm tired of films that do this.
Astrasa - Oct 14, 2023
Called Avenue of the Giants here
MamaSuzOct 12, 2023Mill Valley Film Fest 2023, film #2 Okay, hear me out. This is a bad movie. An actively bad movie. Here's why. For context, half of the film takes place in 2004 in Marin (shot specifically around downtown Mill Valley) and centers around an aging Herbert Heller (Stephen…
JohannaOct 22, 2023Was called “Avenue of the Giants” when I saw it. Not to be too blunt, but this title (or any other title for that matter) is an improvement. That’s where my complaints end though, this is a powerhouse of a film that showcases Stephen Lang in a way I’ve never seen before.…
John Bracchitta - Oct 6, 2023
http://www.disappointmentmedia.com/reviews/avenue-of-the-giants-a-two-hander-with-impeccable-storytelling-and-direction
Dan AllenOct 6, 2023Review by Dan Skip Allen. Sometimes movies can move you in ways you never thought possible. I have just seen a film that wasn't on my radar, but has profoundly affected me. I've seen many movies about WWII and the Jewish side of the war — where they were persecuted and…
disappointment mediaApr 12, 2026Maybe not as hard to watch as I thought it would be but still a very hopeful and optimistic film carried by some great acting. In an era defined by contested facts and competing realities, the film also resonates with many like me as a timely and provocative reflection on…
A24lover2004
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Who's the cast of The Optimist: The Bravest Act Is Truth (2026)?
- Stephen Lang as Herbert Heller
- Elsie Fisher as Abby
- Luke David Blumm as Young Herbert Heller
- Robin Weigert as Ruth
- Slavko Sobin as Herbert's Father
- Stella Stocker as Herbert's Mother
- Oskar Hes as Hein Heller
- Albie Brown as Mandolin Player
- Nicholas Bustamante as Luke
- Nate Duncan as ER Doctor