Dramas

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Soul Kitchen
7.3

Soul Kitchen

Rarely we can find a film which is not oversaturated with visual effects or with hidden symbols and which has a twisted surrealistic plot. In this short movie, Akin Fatih, could put in the lives of several ordinary people, with their aspirations, fears, and feelings. The viewer does not need to think over every scene and look for the hidden meaning – all morality lies on the surface, like in our real life.

The protagonist is Zinos, the owner of a small restaurant, or rather, the “Soul Kitchen” on the outskirts of Hamburg, where he prepares a simple cheap meal, which is liked by regular guests. They know a small menu which consists of several dishes by heart and does not want any changes and innovations. We cannot say that his business is flourishing, but the restaurant is kept afloat and brings a small income.

All the heroes of the film are ordinary people, with their own problems and hobbies. They quarrel, make peace, fall in love with each other and, no matter what, remain good friends. They are always sure that they can come to their native place called “Soul Kitchen”, where everything seems not so hopeless, to get together and feel – there is still hope.

In my mind, the film shows people who are ready to go to the end, change and adjust to any difficult life situations. This movie gave me a lot of positive emotions, inspired me and made me believe in good.

The characters in a movie disclosed with a twist of irony to show how they spoil and improve their lives. The film will be very easy to perceive, it is not overloaded with dramatic or comedic moments. A successful combination of good music and appetizing food significantly improves the mood from viewing. But it’s hard to watch it on an empty stomach because the presented dishes cause a strong desire to try them immediately. While I was watching this film, I realized that my soul was resting, blooming and relaxing. And I definitely enjoyed every moment of this wonderful movie.


In the Aisles
8.8

In the Aisles

The main hero of the movie, a guy named Christian, gets a job in one of the local supermarkets and even doesn’t suspect that inside the utility rooms flows a completely different life. Life between the rows has its own characteristics; therefore, no one except workers can understand its principles and accept conditions. Huge rows with goods are daily witnessed quarrels, love relationships, gossip, and the birth of a strong friendship.
The protagonist immediately finds a common language with the staff and soon realizes that he has become one of the members of this huge community. Bruno who works in the drinks department becomes a mentor for Christian, devoting a newcomer to the fine points of retail. Affair with Marion who works in the confectionery department very quickly develops into love. But, it turns out that Marion is a married woman. When Marion takes sick days, Christian plunges into the deep melancholy.
This is a fairy tale, translated into the language of modern reality. A small kingdom with its own laws and an invisible king – the director of a supermarket. Blond Princess Marion from the confectionery department, who lives in the castle and is waiting for salvation. Wise mentor Bruno and meeting with death. Taming the dragon, who took the form of a forklift truck. Christmas night, where there is a place for lights, food, legends and faith in a miracle.
All this is very subtle, deeply and concisely intertwined in the gray routine of an ordinary German supermarket. The scene severely limits and at the same time reveals the talent of 37-year-old director Thomas Stuber. He finds expressive details, locations and counterpoints, creates an atmosphere that accurately conveys not only emotion but also a deep meaning.


The Present
10

The Present

Being a film adaptation of the Internet comics, that is already popular for several years, this cartoon tells us about such a touching and memorable story which force us to watch it again and again due to its colors, attractive characters and insiring story. This is a creation about the lives of people who, due to some circumstances, are not the same as others. Not mentally, but physically. It is a story about acceptance of who you are. It is a short story about instant friendship that was grown on the basis of mutual understanding, common pain, as well as learning how to overcome it. This is truly a wonderful cartoon, filled with meaning that will be clear to both children and adults: any second of our life, any unexpectedness, anything can change our future. In the cartoon there are practically no words, it lasts four minutes. But it is more sincere than many full-length films that are trying to make the viewer cry.


Four Minutes
9.5

Four Minutes

It is a story about two women: the 80-year-old Traude Krueger, a church organist in old age and a virtuoso pianist in her youth, and 20-year-old prisoner Jenny von Loeben who committed the brutal murder. The story takes place in a women’s prison at the end of the 20th century. Frau Kruger is an intelligent, almost arrogant woman; Jenny is a daring, but talented former young pianist with an unhappy fate. Traude Krueger has been giving music lessons in a women’s prison for many years. From day to day. But everything changes when she meets Jenny. It took a long time toget used to each other. Traude Krueger made Jenny to play the piano and escape from prison to participate in a prestigious piano contest in which Jenny will play for four minutes. She will play with such emotions and inspiration that people applauded her. Jenny will tell her sad story by music. She will play, and even when she is taken away by the police, Jenny will be followed by applause. Obviuosly, brilliant and beautiful music should be born this way.


The Door
9.5

The Door

David achieved anything what he wanted in his life on his own: he became a very successful painter, and he has a wonderful daughter. But now he is having a difficult time. His seven-year-old daughter died and he blames himself for everything, since it happened because he made wrong desision. Since that tragic episode David got terribly depressed and doesn’t want to live anymore. But one day he discovers a mysterious door, which completely changes his life. The point is this door makes it possible to go back to the past and correct the mistakes made. But what seemed to be a happiness  and an opportunity to change everything,  turns to be a real horror, leading to irreversible consequences.


The Princess and the Warrior
7

The Princess and the Warrior

Sissi – a Princess – is a nurse in a mental hospital. Bodo – a warrior – is a former soldier, moonlighting everywhere. The coincidence brought them together, he stole something from the supermarket, and running away from security guards, hangin’ on the passing truck. The driver was distracted and knocked Sissi. She was lying under the truck and was choking, unable to move. He came out of the crowd of onlookers, to beat the life back into her lungs and disappeared just as suddenly. Sissy realized that they didn’t just meet accidentally, and now she is looking for her savior, to understand what is the role of this man in her life. They are a really weird couple, bound together by impossibility of the existence without each other.


Young Goethe in Love
9

Young Goethe in Love

The film is dedicated to the younger days of the future great poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Young Goethe, who hasn’t yet proved himself, studies in law school, but neglects his studying what makes his father angry. The angry parent sends his son to the sleepy town to work in an insignificant position at the courthouse. But in a new place Goethe falls deliriously in love with young Charlotte Buff and begins to dream of happiness with her, which seems so possible. However, as it turns out, the main character has a competitor. Great camera work in combination with harmonious music and stunning plot create a true masterpiece of cinematography.

Young Goethe in Love wants only to engage an audience with a capital-R Romantic ideal of Goethe’s first love. It does so very well. And it was well worth the effort. Also, the first kiss between Fehling and Stein is exceptionally warm — the stuff that novels, or poems, are made on.

Chicago Tribune

A Coffee In Berlin
9

A Coffee In Berlin

This film is an ironic story about one day and one night in the life of Nico Fischer. Niko is almost thirty, he had not finished the university, his girlfriend dumped him, his father denies financial support, and the psychiatrist confirms that his mentality is unstable. Looking for a solution and any amount of money, at least for a cup of coffee, Nico wanders through the streets of Berlin, what becomes a series of random meetings with familiar people and unfamiliar. Nico Fischer has no special thoughts, as well as life goals, and only dream of the day is to get a cup of coffee. Nico is an ambiguous character, whose behavior provokes incessant chain of comic situations…


Winter Sleepers
8

Winter Sleepers

The film is set in a small Alpine town during Christmas holidays. Rebecca, who works as a translator, lives in the house of her friend Laura, who works as a nurse and acts in amateur performances. Rebecca’s boyfriend Marco, who works as an instructor at the ski resort, is coming to visit her. Marco leaves the door of his car unlocked with the keys in the ignition.  Projectionist René, who passes by, gets into the car and gets on the highway. Farmer Theo, carrying his horse to the vet, gets on the same highway. The fate of many characters begin to intertwined dramatically.


Engel & Joe
8.5

Engel & Joe

Joe is a 15-year-old girl who has run away from her dysfunctional mother. Engel is not a name, it is the last name of handsome blond guy, who is also an orphan and punk, who also conducts a worthless way of life. After meeting, those two fall in love with each other. They are together all the time, they make great plans for the future. Neither treason nor lie, nor prison, nor even hard drugs can separate them… They experience enormous difficulties of teenage street life, but their young, but strong feeling helps to build heir own family after all. This film is about love, mistakes and life. Ordinary young people, still almost children, live like an adult, but make a lot of crazy things on their way.