Horst_In_Translation Review of Das Superweib

Das Superweib (1996)

A career-defining movie, but not for the right reasons

[4/10 · 11 September 2017]

"Das Superweib" is a German big screen release from 1996, so this one had its 20th anniversary last year. It is based on a novel by feminist writer and television host Hera Lind, who is certainly way more famous than Gundula Leni Ohngemach, who was in charge of the script here. But the big name attached to this project behind the camera is director Sönke Wortmann. And his inclusion also explains the star-studded cast. Ferres, Król, Schweiger, Müller, Heinze, Lauterbach, Pulver and others were already among the most known German film had to offer back then, but not necessarily among the very best. The prime example is lead actress Veronica Ferres, basically an equally untalented Rosalie Thomass 2 decades ago, just as untalented, blonde and voluptuous you could say. I read people saying that Ferres has played an actress for decades now and that is probably the only convincing portrayal she has ever given. And that she even gets cast in the lead role for a Werner Herzog movie next to international superstars says it all. Unreal stuff. Back to this film here, she is easily the worst aspect about it. Admittedly Heinze occasionally has some wooden moments too, but it's not the entirety of his performance in terms of line delivery like for Ferres and he also makes up for it with his body language at times. It's really all about make-believe. With the exception of Schweiger's character at the very end, really every man she meets falls for her because of how attractive and free-spirited she is. They want to tame the beast. You often here about bad character writing when it comes to females, but from what I saw here the writer(s) don't understand one bit of the male psyche and that's why the outcome here is not just on the uninspired and stereotypical side, but almost sexist, misandrist and offensive. Definitely not the brightest moment for Wortmann, even if he is just the director. I haven't read Lind's original work, but I would not be surprised if the struggles start there already looking at a list of films based on her works and not just start with the screenplay. On the other hand, the film has some bright and actually entertaining moments too, not just the garbage stuff like the two (ex-)spouses meeting each other again or the ridiculous phone impersonation scene. Some of the comedy isn't that bad at all actually and this is why I am also still relatively generous with my rating. I am sure that with better base material and a better lead actress, this could have been an actually decent little film. The rest of the cast is fine too as it includes even scene-stealers like Klaußner, a personal favorite who may not have been as known back then as he is today. But sadly the weaknesses are more crucial here than the positive aspects, which make it also a pretty perfect film to define Ferres' career. It's all about make-believe and the simple-minded fall for her like they fall for Thomalla or Neubauer. Thumbs down. Not recommended.