“rich in subtext; soft in exposition“
Con Nats
4.5 Cigars
When renowned writer, Thomas Mann (Hanns Zischler) and his daughter Erika (Sandra Hüller) return to post WWII Germany, it was always going to be a bitter sweet journey. He fled before the war and returned to collect a Nobel Peace Prize. He gave speeches in both halves of Germany, in which professed for hope for their respective futures. But what is hope after what had happened in his homeland. The political hypocrisy of each republic is laid bare without being resolved. Germany became a tapestry of ideology, driven by outsiders.
Although the story focuses on the road trip between Thomas and his daughter, it is far richer with subtlety and subtext. There isn’t a strong storyline in this film. It feels like a series of vignettes where each scene is carefully crafted and designed to say something meaningful. It is beautifully done.
The opening scene is a long discussion between Erika and her errant brother Klaus (August Diehl) which highlights the fractures between the family members. Klaus had surfed off his father’s reputation and had written Mephisto, which is based on Erika’s ex-husband, Gustaf Gründgens (Joachim Meyeroff). The scene between Erika and Gustaf is a searing one and a lesson in acting by Huller. The dialogue is razor sharp, even though it is revealing backstory.
The backdrop of a conflicted Germany, trying to find their new identities is a vivid one, which writer-director (and even editor) Paweł Pawlikowski has chosen to film in 4:3 and in black and white. It only adds to the mood.
Then you have the subtlety of the relationship between Erica and Klaus which is far more complex than what is explained. This is excellent writing. Little is explained but much is revealed by a line, here or there. It will enrich in your experience of this film if you know some of their history but then again, I felt it didn’t matter.
This is a typical European film – rich in subtext; soft in exposition. The soundtrack is largely absent; it is the acting and dialogue which carry the emotion, as they should.
The ending is an emotional one, which surprises as there is a certain Germanic chill to the characters, and is nicely resolved. This is an understated film which says so much more, and is worth every word.
4.5 Cigars
Con Nats, On The Screen
