As someone who is familiar with both Turkish and German cinema, I am quite familiar with films about the immigrant experience in Germany. To the German film industry's credit, more films of this nature seem to be made in Germany than they are here in the states. And, not all the films about this experience are negative as Turkish-German director's Fatih Akin's film "In July" is a sterling example of this. But, many films about the dark side have been made by both Turkish and German directors. R.W. Fassbinder's "Ali: Fear Eats the Soul" about a Morrocon immigrant and the humorous, but socially relevant film "Polizei" by Serif Goren, the field director for Yilmaz Guney's film "Yol" illustrate the problems quite well. Though "Otomo" is not quite as brilliant as those two films, it does capture what problems can arise when a man, particularly a man of color, comes into a foreign land. The dual problem is the fact that the man may be oblivious to the new country's problems- in Germany's case, the growing pains of reunification, and the adopted country is unaware of what the immigrant dealt with in his homeland. The lead actor here is quite exceptional, and really carries the film. There is a scene where he gives a young girl a flower which reminds one of Boris Karloff in a similar scene from "Frankenstein." The film is also similar to John Sayles' "Brother From Another Planet" arguably one of the best contemporary films from a white director about racism in this country. In short, "Otomo" is a universal film and anyone who knows a recent Middle Eastern immigrant in the states knows how chillingly real the events that happened in this film can occure. And, since "Otomo" is based on a true story that is a disturbing thought.
5 Reviews
Powerful and disturbing
dogz0067 August 2009
This movie at first made me angry at the main character and then angry at myself for feeling that way. I thought if only he had been more cooperative and less scary-looking, what transpired would never happen. Sure-cooperate like the Jews did in the 30's & 40's. Police brutality, racial prejudice and provocation do happen and that something like this could happen in a German city with a small African population is not a stretch of the imagination. It could happen, and does, almost everywhere and it must be remembered this is based on an actual event. The people who hated it are obviously Germans with a guilty conscience. The acting was outstanding. Isaach De Bankolé's is very believable as an angry, resentful, weary Black man hounded by the police for nothing! He shows tenderness toward a young child and her grandmother (Eva Mattes) who are kind to him. A sad, tragic story and one that should lead to a lot of healthy conversation and debate.
Well filmed and acted even though the story is a bit forced
vanrosss9 June 2002
An illegal immigrant resists the social support system causing dire consequences for many. Well filmed and acted even though the story is a bit forced, yet the slow pacing really sets off the conclusion. The feeling of being lost in the big city is effectively conveyed. The little person lost in the big society is something to which we can all relate, but I cannot endorse going out of your way to see this movie.
Very manipulative movie, almost on the dangerous side
Horst_In_Translation8 October 2017
Warning: Spoilers
"Otomo" is a German film from 1999, so this one will have its 20th anniversary soon and it is among the more known works by writer and director Frieder Schlaich. You could think that one of the reasons to watch this movie is the reference to actual events, but that is in fact the reason why you should not watch it. As it says during the credits, it is unknown what really happened between the subway incident and the bridge tragedy and what Schlaich offers us in here is admittedly a bad joke. A hostage/blackmail situation in which he starts making out eventually with his "hostage" played by Eva Mattes, the most known cast member for sure? Are you kidding me? Honestly everything about Mattes character here really was a failure. The initially scared reaction despite her background and connection with Africa. The fact how the two become friends almost and she takes him home with her. And finally the kissing/funeral scene. I am sure people will not be hesitant to call the mother a racist, but I think she was the exact opposite, namely a caring parent who reacted perfectly accurate in a dangerous situation.
In general, the ways in which the film depicts Otomo as a victim are fairly cringeworthy. Every character except Mattes' is really treated as if they were racists with the way they look at Otomo and how they behave in his company. Talk about pressing guilt on us audiences. The goal was of course that we forgive Otomo for breaking a man's nose, for robbing a grandmother, for taking a little girl hostage, for stabbing several police officers killing two of them. Oh yeah what a victim. Regardless of if he had a valid ticket or not, how about he could have joined the officers early on as he must have seen the woman was not against him. This is not a Michael Kohlhaas story. This is the story of a violent and dangerous offender who is the only one to blame for what happened to him, even if the film tries so hard to convince us otherwise, also with how he is shot in the back at the very end trying to run away, which apparently also had nothing to do with the facts on that tragic day. Such cowards these policemen no? Back to the movie itself, it is really nothing to be proud of as it has absolutely nothing to do with reality despite claiming to be based on actual events. The only thing it does is impress the easily entertained and provoke people into thinking without any kind of justification how racist Germans still are today. This is the stuff that keeps racism alive these days. And even if it was relatively short at 80 minutes only, I suggest you stay far away from this movie. Huge thumbs-down and I highly recommend not to watch it. Sad to see to which level Mattes has fallen after working with Fassbinder and Herzog before.
In general, the ways in which the film depicts Otomo as a victim are fairly cringeworthy. Every character except Mattes' is really treated as if they were racists with the way they look at Otomo and how they behave in his company. Talk about pressing guilt on us audiences. The goal was of course that we forgive Otomo for breaking a man's nose, for robbing a grandmother, for taking a little girl hostage, for stabbing several police officers killing two of them. Oh yeah what a victim. Regardless of if he had a valid ticket or not, how about he could have joined the officers early on as he must have seen the woman was not against him. This is not a Michael Kohlhaas story. This is the story of a violent and dangerous offender who is the only one to blame for what happened to him, even if the film tries so hard to convince us otherwise, also with how he is shot in the back at the very end trying to run away, which apparently also had nothing to do with the facts on that tragic day. Such cowards these policemen no? Back to the movie itself, it is really nothing to be proud of as it has absolutely nothing to do with reality despite claiming to be based on actual events. The only thing it does is impress the easily entertained and provoke people into thinking without any kind of justification how racist Germans still are today. This is the stuff that keeps racism alive these days. And even if it was relatively short at 80 minutes only, I suggest you stay far away from this movie. Huge thumbs-down and I highly recommend not to watch it. Sad to see to which level Mattes has fallen after working with Fassbinder and Herzog before.
Socially conscious movies
rivers7z26 June 2006
I haven't seen this movie yet - would like to. I don't think it's out on video. I've seen Brother from Another Planet - an excellent movie. the actor here Isaach De Bankole is very good - he was in Ghost Dog, The Keeper, Chocolate, and other films. The thing about movies like Otomo: they're very hard to find, I heard about this by just reading about the actor Isaach De Bankole. I prefer foreign films of a socially conscious nature. Stories like these are certainly relevant today, with immigration issues capturing newspaper headlines, and xenophobia. If it was possible, I would purchase the film if on e-bay or amazon.com. California newsreel also has socially conscious movies with people of color, but they're generally for classroom teaching.
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