OK, I admit you have waited a long time for this blog post.
I have been exploring some real life big issues, like why are all the poor
people in the Les Mis film Northern? And is the body under the car park King
Richard III? (no!), and what about the Gay Marriage bill or Women Bishops?! So
herewith part two of my German cinema series; today featuring Das Wunder
von Bern (HMV buy) and Barfuss (Birthday/Christmas gift) both good, quite
different films.
Das Wunder von Bern (2003)
This Wortmann film is set in 1950’s Essen and is the story of
a football-mad boy (Matthias) and his trip to the 1950’s World Cup in Bern,
Switzerland. When we first meet Matthias he is growing up a world without male
role-models. His dad is still in a Soviet prisoner of war camp and his brother
dreams of revolution; Matthias turns to footballers for inspiration. This film,
whilst ostensibly being about the downright miraculous victory of the Germans
in the 1954 World Cup at Bern is also about family. About the adjustments of
Matthias’ family with and without his dad, the loyalties of a husband when
greeted by fame and fortune, the duties of a father and a son to the family and
making it work. And it is also about the experience of war and recovery through
the eyes of a child; thoroughly reminiscent of the photos I saw on my
Archaeology of Modern Conflict course.
Das Wunder von Bern was a beautiful story to watch. The set
design and the location shooting take you back in time, not a simpler time, but
a different world to ours; where women wore pretty dresses and the men called
the shots (intentional pun!). Like Goodbye Lenin! some of the footage is
interspersed with real historic footage which adds an extra glorious dimension.
And my own father, who isn’t generally that interested in Foreign Language
Cinema lapped it up too!
If you like football, World War II or beautifully crafted
films you will love this! I’d give it a secure 4/5.
Barfuss (2005)
Nick is a bachelor who has trouble holding down a job. On one
such job, working as a cleaner in an asylum he meets Leila who he interrupts
trying to commit suicide. Leila becomes Nick’s shadow following him all the way
from Munich to Hamburg, seeing the world through the naïve eyes of a child and
emboldening Nick to make good life decisions. This rom-com is apparently loved
by people who also loved 500 days of summer and Love Actually; I can see the resemblances
with an extra psychological twist. There was the occasional painfully slapstick
scene but I liked the fact that even Leila was treated like a complex character despite her fragility. And I think I
recognised the party location as Benrath Castle but I could be wrong…
Great rom-com, a little long in places, but feel-good and a great sofa comfort… 7/10.
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