El_Sordo Reviews

Der alte Affe Angst (2003)

psychologically demanding drama

[9/10 · 28 February 2006]

I just saw this movie on ARTE.

The Story is about the relationship between Marie and Robert, both played with an intensive performance by the two actors, who difficulties in their relationship.

As the Story moves on, it's becoming more and more obvious that the problems they have with one another are ones that lie deep within each ones personality and past. The movie shows how "Angst,the old monkey" eats each of them from the inside, not only Robert, but also Marie, and how both of them thus thoroughly jeopardize their relationship.

Yet the movie is kind of demanding, you will feel a kind of relief at the end. Both main characters are plausible, performances are intense, you have learned something when the lights go on again.

Devil's Island (1996)

modern family saga

[8/10 · 3 December 2005]

I saw this movie in a university class. First, I felt it was somewhat loose in storyline and editing, and it took me a while to get me into the story. but then I got accustomed with the characters and was fine after all.

The story is about a family that lives in some come-down US-barrack-shelters in the early 1950ies. It covers a couple of years of time. It's built up like a classic Icelandic saga - about a family in Iceland, with one character, Baddi that is, in the middle, and the problems Baddi causes. But that might also make the story a bit boring.

Characters are odd and funny. Cinematography is excellent. If you like Scandinavian cinema and and story lines you can't predict, this is a movie you should watch.