BERLIN -- "Longing" makes you long for a good movie. Tedious and long-winded even at 90 minutes, this German film, written and directed by Valeska Grisebach, tells a mundane tale of adultery that lacks even the slightest insight. The film will have scant theatrical opportunity outside of German-speaking territories. Euro tube sales are its best bet.
Markus (Andreas Muller), a metal worker and fireman, lives a seemingly happy if bland life in a village with his wife, Ella (Ilka Welz), and small son. He travels with the fire brigade to a larger town for an annual training session. After a booze-fueled banquet with other firefighters, Markus wakes up in the bed of one of the waitresses, Rose (Anett Dornbusch).
He can't even remember what happened the night before. Which doesn't prevent him from spending all his nontraining hours with the new woman in his life. He returns home torn, apparently loving both women. He is given to silence and moody stares into space, through which the director and actor presumably mean to convey great inner torment. Then again, he might be thinking about the design of the rabbit hutch he will build for his son's pet. Who can tell?
The story is framed by a suicide and discussions about death between Markus and his son. So when Markus is involved in an accident that seriously injures Rose and Ella finds out about the affair and moves out of the house, Markus predictably goes looking for his shotgun. Curiously, the only lively scene in the movie is the last one.
Grade-school children discuss this incident, now apparently several years in the past. They get details wrong but have more natural insight into the matter and draw better conclusions than the adults involved.
Tech credits are OK though never rise above the telefilm level.
Markus (Andreas Muller), a metal worker and fireman, lives a seemingly happy if bland life in a village with his wife, Ella (Ilka Welz), and small son. He travels with the fire brigade to a larger town for an annual training session. After a booze-fueled banquet with other firefighters, Markus wakes up in the bed of one of the waitresses, Rose (Anett Dornbusch).
He can't even remember what happened the night before. Which doesn't prevent him from spending all his nontraining hours with the new woman in his life. He returns home torn, apparently loving both women. He is given to silence and moody stares into space, through which the director and actor presumably mean to convey great inner torment. Then again, he might be thinking about the design of the rabbit hutch he will build for his son's pet. Who can tell?
The story is framed by a suicide and discussions about death between Markus and his son. So when Markus is involved in an accident that seriously injures Rose and Ella finds out about the affair and moves out of the house, Markus predictably goes looking for his shotgun. Curiously, the only lively scene in the movie is the last one.
Grade-school children discuss this incident, now apparently several years in the past. They get details wrong but have more natural insight into the matter and draw better conclusions than the adults involved.
Tech credits are OK though never rise above the telefilm level.
- 2/15/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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