Schlaflos in Schwabing (2012 TV Movie) User Reviews

Nice movie, probably made with middle-aged/older women in mind

[Catharina_Sweden · 7/10 · 23 February 2018]

The Germans are good at making movies on themes that middle-aged/older women like to hear and think about. I have seen many modern German movies now on the same theme as this: a middle-aged/older woman has been left for a younger woman. Sometimes (as here) the man has also got children with the younger woman. Which makes the older woman feel worthless, as she can no longer have children or be as attractive as the younger woman.

...but then it all resolves itself, as it turns out that the man still loves his old wife, that he misses her, regrets what he has done, does not like his new life with small children in reality, and does not find his young wife that especially attractive anymore. The young woman is often pictured as an egoistic and demanding gold-digger. So he tries to get his old wife back. Sometimes he succeeds, and they come to terms with the fact that he still has to take some responsibility for his new children too, or otherwise (as here) the older woman meets a new man who is much better in all respects. This gives comfort and hope to the very many women past 40-45 who are in this situation.

This film was definitely boring enough to help you fall asleep

[Horst_In_Translation · 2/10 · 5 October 2020]

"Schlaflos in Schwabing", which of course means "Sleepless in Schwabing", is a German television film from 2012, so this one is moving closer to its 10th anniversary. Or, depending on when you read my review, maybe it actually happened already. And yes, they really went there with the title to make a pretty embarrassing connection with "Sleepless in Seattle". This film runs for 1.5 hours as they usually do, minimally under, and does not only tell the story of a female protagonist, but was also written and directed by females. Christine Kabisch was the one in charge behind the camera and even if you worked in the field since the 1980s, it does necessarily mean you are talented in what you do. She is the best example. Many very bad projects included there and now in her mid60s she is working on "Rote Rosen". Enough said. A bit sad. The writer's body of work does not look any better. Edda Leesch has not been as prolific as her director over the years and actually worked more as an actress than as a writer, but when she was in charge of screenplays, the outcome was almost always embarrassing. So this film here was kinda doomed from the start. The lead actress I mentioned earlier is Mariele Millowitsch. I would not say I was a fan, but 20 years ago or so, I kinda liked her in her role as Nikola, still her most known career effort probably. However, the more I see from her now, the more I am convinced she is not particularly talented either. Or at least makes terrible role selections as almost everything else I have seen her in was not good at all. Also not funny must be said as she is one to go for comedies usually, even if there is almost always also a serious note included. This one we got here is no exception. The supporting cast, well, German film buffs may recognize a feww more faces. Gastdorf comes to mind first, Goeske and Kremp are no nobodies either. But even those who do not give terrible performances here are kept behind by the pretty weak script from beginning to end I must say. It is just not a realistic movie, nit a funny movie, not an authentic movies. It all feels fake.

I want to mention a few scenes and moments that make me think so. First of all, the big key plot that the protagonistg accidentally through her work runs into a man who was once her friend's lover, but ran away from her. And yet, despite this (or because of this?), she grows closer and makes a connection with the man. It's the same as almost always with Degeto production. Utter nonsense. The main character is a woman who is successful in her profession, a good mother and friend and of course (despite her age) a desirable female. By the way, Millowitsch was considerabler older than 50 (her character's age) in this film. But hey, still she has men constantly following her. Must be her youthful spirit and name Fanny. The best example is the one who is now her colleague and once was her partner. Before he left her for a younger woman and he is really unhappy now with said woman and wants Millowitsch's character back. But the latter of course is self-confident and independent and won't take him back. Instead, she focuses on the new guy. This of course brings some pseudo conflict with her best friend who once dated the new guy. And if all this does not feel forced and unrealistic enough, we have the duo's kids (or nephew I should say, but really unrealistic too how he shows up all of a sudden at her doorstep and stays there) who grow closer to and are about to become a couple. This film also shows how Goeske absolutely should not be among the more (let alone, most) talented actors from the new generation. He is not good at all gently-speaking. There is of course also this story that the girl has a boyfriend far away abroad, which feels already a bit staged, but when we find out they never even met, it becomes really ridiculous. Of course, a happy end is in store for the boy there too. He still gets away without too much harm if we take a look at how male characters are usually written in these films. Alyways less likable and less stable and less reliable than female characters. It's so predictable. The ex-man is the best example. Oh my. Now one thing I personally found the most disgusting about this film I also have to elaborate on and that woild be the insomnia reference because I thought it was really shameful. I am one who needs a lot of sleep too to function, but how this subject is depicted here is really just a major embarrassment. It basically starts with the words that she is healthy, doing great with her job, but has not slept properly for three years. Yeah, right. One must be really healthy like that. Also this is somewhat justified by the evil men component again as it started when her man left her for the younger woman back then. Sure thing. Then why are they constantly showing us that she is absolutely not interested in the guy anymore and this chapter is completely over for her? Also the ending was equally embarrassing. It was depicted as some sort of big success that, now happy with the new guy, she is able to sleep again without waking up at night. On the one hand, this implies she needs to be with a man to sleep. How emancipated! On the other, it is used as a really big thing and development. The problem is that they almost forgot this background from the very beginning. Maybe you did too, which makes the film's name a big miss too. It feels like barely a factor anymore and still they want us to get out the big emotions in the end because of that. It's just impossible. And actually pretty offensive to people really suffering from insomnia and there are many. So yeah, no matter which perspective you take here, this film is failure territory from beginning to end, also everything linked to Asia and her job and how it interferes with the man in her life as well. Highly not recommended and the rating here on imdb is way too high. More Degeto trash and I hope I can forget about this film as soon as possible. Especially about the ridiculous domino reference. I mean this was truly the prime example of a desperate attempt to give this film some depth and purpose at least through metaphoric parallels and it went all kinds of wrong. Just like everything else. Absolutely avoid.