A film of unreconciled impulses, Breathing is by turns vaguely sentimental and cooly detached in a manner that's ultimately more off-putting than it is complementary.

Elegant cinematography by Martin Gschlacht, one of Austria's most sought-after lensers, gives "Breathing" added depth.

"Breathing" stands as a sure-handed look at an individual's slow journey toward realization.

Markovics shows a keen attention to performers that you'd expect from a thespian-turned-director.

There's no superficial flash here, just patient and compassionate storytelling gradually immersing us in this young man's world, as first-timer Schubert's vulnerable adolescent grows up before our very eyes.