World Reviews Now!: German

Showing posts with label German. Show all posts

Review: Summer Storm (2004 Film)

Monday, October 24, 2011 | Posted by The Entertainment Geek

I wanted a modern, authentic, German film, and I think I got it.

“First Lines:

Tobi: She said, I don't mind!

Achim: Those very words. Now chill, I have to keep at 140..”

The Rundown

Behind the name: Original title — Summerstrum

Country: Germany, 2004

Genre: Drama, Coming-of-age

Distributor: Regent Releasing, X Verleih AG

Directed By: Marco Kreuzpaintner

Cast: Robert Stadlober (as Tobi), Kostja Ullmann (as Achim), Jürgen Tonkel (as Hansi), Miriam Morgenstern (as Sandra), Alicja Bachleda (as Anke/as Alicja Bachleda-Curus), Angelika Brennfleck (as Thea).

Compare to: Get Real (1998), Edge of Seventeen (1998), Come Undone (2000)

Hate it or Love it? Enjoy it

Synopsis in a Sentence: Two teenage guys who belong to the local rowing club have been best friends forever, and they do everything together: they’ve got the standard teenage lives, with girlfriends to match, but as they get closer, one begins to develop feelings a bit more than friendship…

On Writing: The Plot

The storyline is interesting. It’s written and produced well, carrying a sensitive subject in a realistic, yet wistful manner. With just enough of everything to keep you interested until the end. The delicacy of youth is highlighted in the plot, and the feelings of joy, happiness, and nostalgia is written into the storyline. The characters are lively and interesting to watch, the emotions that come with the story are handled skilfully and without (excessive) clichés. It’s a slightly controversial topic, but handled properly through this plot. Beware of nudity and sexual content though.

(4/5)

On Acting: The Cast

With captivating characters, the performance is not bad: Quite good actually. There are many interesting characters that will keep you hooked on the storyline. A good cast. Great teamwork altogether.

Robert Stadlober

Kostja Ullman

Actors, Robert Stadlober (who plays Tobi), and Kostja Ullmann ( who plays Achim) more or less make the movie. Their performances draw you in, and if nothing else, allow you to linger on the mystery of their characters.

(3/5)

On Production:

The production is good. Done properly. The shots are beautiful and symbolic. In fact, better than you’d think, if you actually think about it. There are some great shots, nice symbolism; everything is implied with the way this film is produced. Production is done with talent and creativity.

(4/5)

On Resolution: The Conclusion

Quite good. Many things make this film good, and the resolution is one of them. Akin to the plot, the resolution remains real, not clichéd, but yet emotional and meaningful. A good one.

(4/5)

The Verdict: It’s a good watch. There’s more to this film that meets the eye, and it’s well done.

Overall Score = 15 /20

Posted In 2004, Drama, Europe, Film, Gay, German, Germany, Good, Teen, Top Rated (20-15) | 0 comments |

Review: Aimée And Jaguar (1999 Film)

Saturday, April 9, 2011 | Posted by The Entertainment Geek

The cover said it all, but I wasn’t quite ready for the whole film…

“Ilse: Has she risked her life? Would she lie and steal and fight for you? Do you think she'd take risks my father takes? She has no idea what it's like listening to every idiot who comes up the stairs. But you know how it is, Felice. Your behaviour makes me sick!

Felice: [long beat] So send me a bill.”

The Rundown

Behind the name: Based on the true stories of Lilly Wust and Felice Schragenheim, and a book by Erica Fischer

Country: Germany, 1999

Genre: War Drama

Distributor: Senator Film

Directed By: Max Färberböck,

Cast: Maria Schrader as (Felice Schragenheim/Jaguar), Juliane Köhler (as Lilly Wust/Aimée), Johanna Wokalek (as Ilse), Heike Makatsch (as Klärchen), Elisabeth Degen (as Lotte), Detlev Buck (as Günther Wust), Inge Keller (as Lilly Wust- 1997), Kyra Mladeck (as Ilse-1997)

Compare to:

Hate it or Love it? Appreciate it

Synopsis in a Sentence: A Jewish woman living in Nazi Germany develops a relationship with a married German woman, but how will life in Hitler’s Germany treat them?

On Writing: The Plot

The plot’s a unique one. We’ve seen a few holocaust movies but none quite like this. The storyline includes issues that touch on injustice, racism, socio-political hardship, and homosexuality. It’s based on a true story, and a book: original, noteworthy, and authentic. An interesting plot.

(3.5/5)

On Acting: The Cast

It’s a good cast. Maria Schrader quite carries the film on her shoulders, but not without a little help from Juliane Köhler. Together they are good, but Schrader is quite the star. Other supporting actors also do justice to their parts. Good work overall.

(4/5)

On Production:

The production is good. Well relayed and delivered.

(3/5)

On Resolution: The Conclusion

Because it’s based on a true story, it makes you think. You’ll want it to end they way you’d like, but it doesn’t, because it’s a true story. A good resolution.

(4/5)

The Verdict: A good and insightful watch. Beware of sexual content though.

Overall Score = 14.5/20

Posted In 1999, Aimée And Jaguar, Drama, Europe, Film, German, Germany, War | 0 comments |

Falling (2006 Film)

Friday, February 18, 2011 | Posted by The Entertainment Geek

I was quite excited about this one. It was my first choice in the German collection, judging from the cover and the recommendations from Time Out, the New York Film Festival and the Toronto Film Festival, but this film simply fell flat.

“I sat and fumbled empathy, searched for the climax, and begged for action, but alas, they never came, and I was left Falling through the rest of the film.”

The Rundown

Behind the name: Fallen (Also Known As)

Country: Austria, 2006

Genre: Drama

Distributed by: Kino International Corp.

Directors: Barbara Albert

Cast: Nina Proll (as Nina), Birgit Minichmayr (as Brigitte), Ursula Strauss (as Alex), Kathrin Resetarits (as Carmen), Gabriela Hegedüs (as Nicole), Ina Strnad (As Daphne)

Compare to: Romy & Michelle’s High School Reunion (But drier than ever)

Hate it or Love it? Hate it L

Synopsis in a Sentence: Five women get to have a reunion when they meet at their teacher’s funeral—they may have gone separate ways, but how much have they changed?

Patience—this one requires patience.

On Writing: The Plot

A film in German, produced in Austria.

The plot’s actually not bad, but as viewers nowadays are accustomed to entertainment so that they can be entertained, the plot of this film didn’t do much of that. Actually, the plot did much of anything.

The dialogue itself wasn’t bad. It was a real production for realistic ideas through realism—but that’s the problem—that was all this film had to offer. Seasoned viewers know that for realism to be effective, equally skilful tactics in film production have to be employed. But no technique at all was used to motivate the viewers of Falling to follow the storyline. It starts with a good formula for realism—five females re-discover one another in the wake of tragedy, but it falls flat after that, with minimal connections throughout the story’s plot, virtually no climax, and no emotive motivation. Actually, the film goes on as though it doesn’t care that that a human will have to watch it one day!

(2.5/5)

On Acting: The Cast

They’re relatively good actors stuck in a story without connections; so we watch them struggle. It was hard to find a relatable character, and just when hope was rising in the horizon, the character would do a 180º and flip on you, and then you’re left wondering again—until you meet another one that does it all over again.

We were also made to wonder if this was Ina Strnad’s first film, because she was relatively disconnected from her character throughout the film.

(3/5)

On Production:

Not bad, but nothing of noteworthy mention. No particular part stood out as memorable, (*should I mention, that the cover photo is the best moment of the film) but we can appreciate the snap-shots of good moment throughout the film. J

(2/5)

On Resolution: The Conclusion

High and dry. That’s what the end leaves you feeling like, and after 88 minutes of sitting through this, you may regret not picking up some German words as the time passed by because that may have been all you got to learn (and enjoy) from Falling.

(Unless you’re going through the pains of one of these women, it’s hard to feel the empathy in the film, even then). L

(1.5/5)

The Verdict: Alas, I would only recommend this to someone stuck in a desert with nothing else for entertainment.

Overall Score = 9/20

In the end, I might be wrong about this film. See Falling for yourself and decide at a local screening [http://www.siff.net/festival/film/detail.aspx?id=22027&FID=32].