MAREN ADE

Bil’s rating (out of 5):    BBB.  

Original title:  Alle Anderen

Germany, 2009.  Komplizen Film, Südwestrundfunk, Westdeutscher Rundfunk, ARTE.  Screenplay by Maren Ade.  Cinematography by Bernhard Keller.  Produced by Maren Ade, Janine Jackowski.  Production Design by Silke Fischer, Volko Kamensky.  Costume Design by Gitti Fuchs.  Film Editing by Heike Parplies.  

A German couple rent a villa in Sardinia for the summer while he prepares an architectural project and she temporarily leaves behind her busy career in the music industry. Forced to face each other in the relative quiet of this paradise, the couple suddenly find that the differences between them, being from different classes, backgrounds and disciplines, are suddenly thrust front and centre without any kind of buffer. Throw in a second couple, whose seeming perfection is thoroughly obnoxious, and you have added incredible fuel to the fire. This second film by Maren Ade is notable for exceptional performances, especially by Birgit Minichmayr as the controversially charismatic female half of the pair, and a steady, natural feel, but there’s nothing to be particularly enthusiastic about. It avoids the realm of soap opera and is at times quite humorous, but it is also far too long and its characters too opaque for the level of relationship detail on display.

Berlin Film Festival Award:  Best Actress (Birgit Minichmayr)