"Zivilcourage" or "Civil Courage" is a German television movie from 2010 that runs the usual 90 minutes and was directed by Dror Zahavi, an Israeli filmmaker, and written by Jürgen Werner and looking of both their bodies of work, this movie here may actually be a contender for career best. This has a lot to do with lead actor Götz George, who is in almost every scene of the film and he is as good as ever certainly elevating the material most of the time. He plays a man who becomes an eye witness of a brutal crime and the rest of the film gets intimidated by the one who did it as well as his older brother, both immigrants from Kosovo. Between the two parties, there is an illiterate young woman, the offender's girlfriend who works for a school project for a week with the old man at his second-hand bookshop. She is the one who shows the greatest character development from all the characters and it's a challenging performance. Most of the time she does well (Genzkow) and when she doesn't, it is more due to the script and not really her not hitting the right notes. The subject, even if the film is almost a decade old, could not be any more current and relevant these days as we have immigrants failing to integrate and instead live in their parallel society that is defined through disrespect and violence towards the people living in their street until eventually complete escalation cannot be ruled out anymore. The fact that he'd get a gun eventually is not that surprising, the only question is if he will use it and I am not gonna spoiler that for you. Makes me sad again that George is dead now, even with the time passed, as films and performances like this one are the evidence of how he really was one of the best we ever had here in Germany. But luckily, he left us a wonderful body of work. This film we got here gets a thumbs-up from me and I certainly recommend checking it out. It is a powerful and true statement of a huge challenge ahead of us and I hope we will master it eventually in more satisfying ways than it is done in the movie here. Watch it.
4 Reviews
Shaking topic, okay movie
blumdeluxe30 July 2018
Warning: Spoilers
"Zivilcourage" tells the story of a bookshop owner in Berlin, who one day becomes whitness how a young immigrant beats a senior into coma. After he calls the police, friends and brother of the suspect begin to threaten him, should he not pull back his testimony. Desperately, the man is looking for a way to save himself and his family.
The really strong point of this movie is that it creates a horrible situation, where it is nearly impossible to say how the viewer himself would react in such a moral dilemma. It is a film that doesn't end with the credits but leaves you searching for answers. This quality hides the fact that apart from that it is not a really great movie. Clearly the producers have very stereotypical ideas of multi-ethnical quarters and youth culture. On top of that some of the characters are quite unrealistic, like the daughter that shows absolutely zero support or understanding or the police that is depicted quite harshly.
All in all this is an important film but it would have suited the production well to get rid of some of the stereotypes and invest into a more detailled and believable character design.
The really strong point of this movie is that it creates a horrible situation, where it is nearly impossible to say how the viewer himself would react in such a moral dilemma. It is a film that doesn't end with the credits but leaves you searching for answers. This quality hides the fact that apart from that it is not a really great movie. Clearly the producers have very stereotypical ideas of multi-ethnical quarters and youth culture. On top of that some of the characters are quite unrealistic, like the daughter that shows absolutely zero support or understanding or the police that is depicted quite harshly.
All in all this is an important film but it would have suited the production well to get rid of some of the stereotypes and invest into a more detailled and believable character design.
A refreshingly honest portrayal of modern life in a multicultural European city
Doctor_Dexter18 February 2011
"Zivilcourage" is a rare gem, in the sense that it's a brave and successful effort to truthfully depict the utter seriousness of 'every day troubles' of life in basically every major city in Europe nowadays.
It also happens to be a very good film. Certainly for a TV-production. It's sometimes warm and touching, often chilling and shocking, and always realistic. This is by no means a 'revenge flick'. No stereotypes here. There's a real story to be told, and every step leading to the next is comprehensible.
(EU) Crime-films and -series on TV are usually covered with the smothering blanket of political-correctness. The culprits are never immigrants, and if they are in some rare case, it's always the 'criminal with golden heart' type 'forced' to crime by society and/or a difficult childhood, I.E. 'circumstances beyond their control'. The baddies in these films and series are nearly without fail 'The Rich'. Be it the greedy CEO of a polluting factory, some evil scientist with a 'get rich with dubious pills' scheme or what have you. We often see the obligatory motives like greed and jealousy, but somehow we never see the type of crime reported in the everyday news bulletins. I wonder why. Afraid to 'offend' people? Unwilling to admit that multiculturalism has its flaws?
Do filmmakers and TV-stations really think average Joe & Jane haven't figured out by themselves that all is not well in their cities? Newsflash: they live it! Every day again they experience these problems first hand. So who do they think they're fooling, really?
Covering up problems has never been a solution, nor will it ever become one. First you have to face the truth and be honest about it, otherwise you'll never be able to solve any problems.
And that's exactly what "Zivilcourage" does. It shows these problems honestly and objectively. No stereotypical heroes and bad guys here, but real people and real problems. Everything and (almost) everyone is put into context, from the 'problematic' youths who are at the epicenter of these problems, the tired parents who lost control over their offspring, the worn out citizens who are fleeing the city, to desperate store owners and weary and lax police officers.
So no-one can claim it's one-dimensional without bending the truth. Calling it "right-wing propaganda" or even "racist" is totally ludicrous, not to say in VERY bad taste (Reductio ad Hitlerum). Whoever claims these things is clearly in denial about reality, and unwilling to accept the fact that the 'multicultural dream' hasn't exactly turned out as they had expected. And they haven't understood the film at all.
It doesn't accuse, it depicts certain facts and circumstances. Virtually no-one comes out smelling like roses, and it's by no means a simplistic 'blame it on the immigrants' story. That's nit-picking on one aspect, whilst completely taking it out of context. What then about calling it anti-government? It's not like police and government come off like heroes, or even very competent. On the same level you could say it's "anti-German", or "anti-parents" for that matter...
Curious how the immigrant-issue is being lifted out of context to blame the filmmakers of some 'unsavory double agenda'. Apparently, in many circles it's still 'not done' to say or show anything about immigrants that might somehow be construed as 'stigmatizing'.
It is exactly for this reason that "Zivilcourage" itself is courageous in several aspects. The filmmakers are as brave as the protagonists in their film. Going against mainstream is never easy, certainly not whilst many of your peers still 'go with the flow', avoiding difficult issues.
For their courage alone they deserve full credits, but let's not forget it's also a well made film. The very realistic story is gripping and captivating, the characters life-like.
Götz George is excellent and very believable as the elderly antique-book store-owner Peter Jordan. He clearly shows he is capable of much more than the (be it entertaining) role of "Schimanski" in a very different and more serious role. His Peter Jordan is as fragile as may be expected for his age, but he is resilient, and determined not to look the other way, or be forced out of his life-long neighborhood. His grown-up kids have already left, urging him to do the same, for his own safety. And isn't that the safest and easiest choice, to just look away if something bad happens, and to move away if bad things keep happening? But how long can you look the other way? And where to would you move if the same things happen again? A few of many good questions that arise in "Zivilcourage".
Carolyn Genzkow is also very good as the 'lost', barely literate girl Jessica, who is about to get thrown out of school. At home (if you can call it that) she takes care of her younger siblings and a sickly mother. She hardly has a chance to escape her dim situation, but she somehow realizes she has to do something right now, or flunk out and lose every chance at a better life. This "something" metabolizes as an internship in Peter Jordan's antique-book store. Reluctantly at first, she sees her internship as an obligation rather than a chance, but gradually her mindset changes...
"Zivilcourage" is as much about growing (up), choices, courage, and coping with life, as it is about the problems in a major city.
It's a multi-faceted gem, and as real as you can get.
Warmly recommended for anyone with enough realism to deal with today's issues and a shimmer of interest in what's going on in our cities.
For a decent review, context & background info in German, Google: "Wenn Zivilcourage zum Existenzkampf wird"
It also happens to be a very good film. Certainly for a TV-production. It's sometimes warm and touching, often chilling and shocking, and always realistic. This is by no means a 'revenge flick'. No stereotypes here. There's a real story to be told, and every step leading to the next is comprehensible.
(EU) Crime-films and -series on TV are usually covered with the smothering blanket of political-correctness. The culprits are never immigrants, and if they are in some rare case, it's always the 'criminal with golden heart' type 'forced' to crime by society and/or a difficult childhood, I.E. 'circumstances beyond their control'. The baddies in these films and series are nearly without fail 'The Rich'. Be it the greedy CEO of a polluting factory, some evil scientist with a 'get rich with dubious pills' scheme or what have you. We often see the obligatory motives like greed and jealousy, but somehow we never see the type of crime reported in the everyday news bulletins. I wonder why. Afraid to 'offend' people? Unwilling to admit that multiculturalism has its flaws?
Do filmmakers and TV-stations really think average Joe & Jane haven't figured out by themselves that all is not well in their cities? Newsflash: they live it! Every day again they experience these problems first hand. So who do they think they're fooling, really?
Covering up problems has never been a solution, nor will it ever become one. First you have to face the truth and be honest about it, otherwise you'll never be able to solve any problems.
And that's exactly what "Zivilcourage" does. It shows these problems honestly and objectively. No stereotypical heroes and bad guys here, but real people and real problems. Everything and (almost) everyone is put into context, from the 'problematic' youths who are at the epicenter of these problems, the tired parents who lost control over their offspring, the worn out citizens who are fleeing the city, to desperate store owners and weary and lax police officers.
So no-one can claim it's one-dimensional without bending the truth. Calling it "right-wing propaganda" or even "racist" is totally ludicrous, not to say in VERY bad taste (Reductio ad Hitlerum). Whoever claims these things is clearly in denial about reality, and unwilling to accept the fact that the 'multicultural dream' hasn't exactly turned out as they had expected. And they haven't understood the film at all.
It doesn't accuse, it depicts certain facts and circumstances. Virtually no-one comes out smelling like roses, and it's by no means a simplistic 'blame it on the immigrants' story. That's nit-picking on one aspect, whilst completely taking it out of context. What then about calling it anti-government? It's not like police and government come off like heroes, or even very competent. On the same level you could say it's "anti-German", or "anti-parents" for that matter...
Curious how the immigrant-issue is being lifted out of context to blame the filmmakers of some 'unsavory double agenda'. Apparently, in many circles it's still 'not done' to say or show anything about immigrants that might somehow be construed as 'stigmatizing'.
It is exactly for this reason that "Zivilcourage" itself is courageous in several aspects. The filmmakers are as brave as the protagonists in their film. Going against mainstream is never easy, certainly not whilst many of your peers still 'go with the flow', avoiding difficult issues.
For their courage alone they deserve full credits, but let's not forget it's also a well made film. The very realistic story is gripping and captivating, the characters life-like.
Götz George is excellent and very believable as the elderly antique-book store-owner Peter Jordan. He clearly shows he is capable of much more than the (be it entertaining) role of "Schimanski" in a very different and more serious role. His Peter Jordan is as fragile as may be expected for his age, but he is resilient, and determined not to look the other way, or be forced out of his life-long neighborhood. His grown-up kids have already left, urging him to do the same, for his own safety. And isn't that the safest and easiest choice, to just look away if something bad happens, and to move away if bad things keep happening? But how long can you look the other way? And where to would you move if the same things happen again? A few of many good questions that arise in "Zivilcourage".
Carolyn Genzkow is also very good as the 'lost', barely literate girl Jessica, who is about to get thrown out of school. At home (if you can call it that) she takes care of her younger siblings and a sickly mother. She hardly has a chance to escape her dim situation, but she somehow realizes she has to do something right now, or flunk out and lose every chance at a better life. This "something" metabolizes as an internship in Peter Jordan's antique-book store. Reluctantly at first, she sees her internship as an obligation rather than a chance, but gradually her mindset changes...
"Zivilcourage" is as much about growing (up), choices, courage, and coping with life, as it is about the problems in a major city.
It's a multi-faceted gem, and as real as you can get.
Warmly recommended for anyone with enough realism to deal with today's issues and a shimmer of interest in what's going on in our cities.
For a decent review, context & background info in German, Google: "Wenn Zivilcourage zum Existenzkampf wird"
Shameless display of the corrosion of Germany's public TV stations!
godfathernicolaos12 February 2010
Except for the role of Götz George all actors are absolutely hilariously awful. The conversations especially with younger people are as staged and unrealistic as they could be. Also there is a very strong racist undertone in this movie. It almost watches like a propaganda film for some racist party. And the conclusion? Old men gets a gun. Evil immigrants are put to jail!? What the heck?? Who is supposed to believe this? Who's supposed to enjoy this? This watches like a hate speech on all immigrants in Germany. They are displayed as being stupid, evil, vile and cruel. Also it is a very bad portrayal of German youth. One could really think they are all listening to extremely shitty hip hop music and hang around drinking pure vodka at 10 a.m. ! Unbelievable. What strikes me personally is how this movie was reviewed by German media. There were no positive reviews but nobody reveals this as the racist piece of film it is. There is so much wrong about this movie. I could probably make a review on every scene and tell why it's extremely bad or inadequate. And I know that the director of this movie is of Israeli descent and a Jew. Yes, I know. Makes even less sense. I would only recommend this movie if you want to find out what's happening with German public TV stations who come up with nothing but unimportant bullshit for people over 60 since years although having huge budgets and being on duty to the public as they are the ones who pay for this. What a fraud!
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