Opening 22 Apr 2010
Directed by:
Ralf Huettner
Writing credits:
Florian David Fitz
Principal actors:
Florian David Fitz, Karoline Herfurth, Heino Ferch, Katharina Müller-Elmau, Johannes Allmayer
Vincent, Marie and Alexander meet in a therapy center for
young adults. Vincent suffers from Tourettes syndrome,
Marie from anorexia, and Alexander from obsessive-compulsive orderliness.
Without a care for possible consequences, they steal a car from their therapist
Dr. Rose and set off for the coast of Italy. Before her death, Vincent promised
his mother to scatter her ashes (which he conveniently carries in a candy tin) into
the sea (Meer). From this point it’s a road movie with Dr.
Rose and Vincent’s obnoxiously well-to-do father in hot pursuit. As a
successful politician facing re-election, this father cannot risk adverse publicity,
especially not due to his kid with the tic who has already been the cause of
too many headaches in his young life.
This small and wonderful German film will make you smile at everyone upon leaving the
cinema. The German actors Florian David Fitz,
Karoline Herfurth, Heino Ferch, Katharina Müller-Elmau,
and Johannes Allmayer make their characters come alive. By overcoming small hindrances and coping
with each other in crowded conditions, each one becomes more tolerant; each is
a better person with a new lease on life. This is such an optimistic film. The
director Ralf Huettner
is certainly influential in the film’s success, but this time the actor Florian David Fitz stands out as someone to keep an eye on.
He not only acts, but wrote the script. Born in Munich in 1974, he graduated from the
Boston Conservatory with honors and toured Europe with the stage version of the Rocky Horror Show. He has appeared on
stage in Munich, as well as on television, e.g., as Dr. Marc Meier in the RTL-TV series
“Doctor’s Diary.” This would be a good film for practicing German. (Becky Tan)
