After having seen this movie, I must state that I'm happy I saw the original and not a germanized translation of the Austrian dialect. Although I didn't understand everything - and I surely wasn't the only one who did so - I think that much of the brilliance of "Hinterholz 8" could have been destroyed by a German version. But now: Why is this film so good? The actors' performance, first of all Roland Düringer's, is absolutely perfect. The same applies to his script. The overall story of a happy three-person family who ruins itself completely by trying to restore an old house instead of buying a new one is simply the ideal background for this realistic satire on greasy financial advisors, the village people of Austrian hinterland and other characters. The main difference between this film and crap like "Funny Farm" is that the rapid increase of desperation in the husband's behaviour and the effects on his attitude are presented totally realistically and vividly. Even the surprise ending doesn't seem fictitious but astonishingly understandable. The only critical remark I want to add is about the son's Star-Trek-Mania which brought some good jokes at the beginning but became boring and unrealistic in the end. I also think this fantastic film should have gotten a better final scene.
Review of Hinterholz 8
