Berlin, the Romantic Era. Young poet Heinrich wishes to conquer the inevitability of death through love, yet is unable to convince his skeptical cousin Marie to join him in a suicide pact. Read more …
It is whilst coming to terms with this refusal, ineffably distressed by his cousin's insensitivity to the depth of his feelings, that Heinrich meets Henriette, the wife of a business acquaintance. Heinrich's subsequent offer to the beguiling young woman at first holds scant appeal, that is until Henriette discovers she is suffering from a terminal illness.
If this is intended as a sly satire of Romanticism’s extremes it works a treat.
A daring, dark satire strewn with allusions to modern times.
A purse-lipped comedy of 19th century manners and an exploration into the banality of romance.
The weirdly compelling story of 19th-century author Heinrich von Kleist’s dark desire for a married woman has an undertone of absurdity.
In a tale that borders humour and horror, a man trawls 1810 Berlin for a partner in suicide. Think Woody Allen without the jokes…
The pace is slow and the comedy mordant, but Friedel and Schnoeink are terrific.
Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow from Sunday February 15, 2015, until Tuesday February 17, 2015. More info: http://www.glasgowfilm.org/theatre/
RSS feed of Cinema reviews