I've liked this film very much: it's sincere, well acted, touching and funny, and it communicates the right message. The plot is well constructed and not too simple although quite obvious; the characters are developed well. Hans is very cute, which doesn't harm.
I just wonder if it's realistic. Previous reviewer Monkey_Finger is right, there are no stereotypes and the initial reaction of the town is realistic; but then there is an happy ending which obviously makes you happy, but is perhaps excessive. The doctor is very correct about homosexuality, but are real Bavarian doctors so modern? Then Katharina is lucky again, she visits a lesbian dance hall and she discovers it's a normal thing. And then everything goes fine: Katharina finds the courage to stand for her son because he is the most important thing in her life and she wants him to be happy; Christian finds out that his son is more important than his career and Vera; to avoid losing their son, he dumps Vera and reconciles with Katharina, finding the courage to say things he had never been able to say; Rosi understands that she wants Hans to be happy, as well; and finally looks like everyone in the village, or at least the whole church choir and all Hans' friends, do the same: and Hans has his idyllic wedding. So Hans, who doubted to be able to convince the whole village of his love, eventually achieves much more than that.
I like this theme of the sudden coming out of a boy in love (and against the will of the partner) who wants his family to immediately support him. It's interesting to compare "Juste une question d'amour", where the ending is very different. Perhaps "Juste une question d'amour" is more realistic, or that part of France is more conservative, or things have improved in the last 9 years, or Hans is right and if you have never had the courage to come out to your family you should instead take your chance when you're in the right mood and come out to the whole world, so that your family reputation is "ruined" anyway (as Katharina's day life was destroyed) and they have to support you to regain dignity and to avoid losing their son.
I give it a 8 because it isn't a revolutionary film and there are films which make me cry or stimulate stronger feelings, but it's definitely worth watching (even more than once).
I just wonder if it's realistic. Previous reviewer Monkey_Finger is right, there are no stereotypes and the initial reaction of the town is realistic; but then there is an happy ending which obviously makes you happy, but is perhaps excessive. The doctor is very correct about homosexuality, but are real Bavarian doctors so modern? Then Katharina is lucky again, she visits a lesbian dance hall and she discovers it's a normal thing. And then everything goes fine: Katharina finds the courage to stand for her son because he is the most important thing in her life and she wants him to be happy; Christian finds out that his son is more important than his career and Vera; to avoid losing their son, he dumps Vera and reconciles with Katharina, finding the courage to say things he had never been able to say; Rosi understands that she wants Hans to be happy, as well; and finally looks like everyone in the village, or at least the whole church choir and all Hans' friends, do the same: and Hans has his idyllic wedding. So Hans, who doubted to be able to convince the whole village of his love, eventually achieves much more than that.
I like this theme of the sudden coming out of a boy in love (and against the will of the partner) who wants his family to immediately support him. It's interesting to compare "Juste une question d'amour", where the ending is very different. Perhaps "Juste une question d'amour" is more realistic, or that part of France is more conservative, or things have improved in the last 9 years, or Hans is right and if you have never had the courage to come out to your family you should instead take your chance when you're in the right mood and come out to the whole world, so that your family reputation is "ruined" anyway (as Katharina's day life was destroyed) and they have to support you to regain dignity and to avoid losing their son.
I give it a 8 because it isn't a revolutionary film and there are films which make me cry or stimulate stronger feelings, but it's definitely worth watching (even more than once).