This is the incredibly sweet story of a love that survived in spite of the odds. Herr Schmidt and Herr Friedrich were separated not just by the official prejudice against homosexuality, but also by the wall that divided East from West Germany. Their tale is not a particularly remarkable one, apart from the fact that they managed to remain lovers for 24 years--a rarity for any relationship. Now united, albeit unemployed, in the "new" Germany, they live on memories, and the occasional birthday party, yet they remain oddly sanguine on the subject of their future. I particularly enjoyed hearing the samplings from their exhaustive record collection, which makes few nods to American pop music, focusing instead on what are, for most of us, obscure German pop hits of the '50s and '60s. The lyrics, filled as they are with messages of hope and a better tomorrow, say it all. If you are looking for something completely different, I recommend "Herr Schmidt and Herr Friedrich."
2 Reviews
A simple and moving portrait of a love between two people
bearndahl15 November 2004
Warning: Spoilers
This is a beautiful little film that chronicles the lives of two German men who have lived and loved together for twenty four years. Most of the film is focused on their reminiscences of their courtship and struggle to join as a couple while separated by geography and politics (one being from West Germany; one from East Germany.) They look at old photographs, and play old 45 rpm records of German pop songs from the 60's. They read old letters they wrote to each other while still trying to overcome bureaucracy and join together. They wander about their house and do the domestic things that any older couple would do; water plants, grill meat in the backyard, prepare for a 50th birthday party. They are remarkable for their un-remarkableness. We see that theirs has obviously grown into more of a companion relationship as they have aged, though it is obvious that "Kuddel" still adores his Friedrich.
*** Possible spoiler ahead *** Just minutes after we hear the men reading some early letters to each other declaring their love and devotion, the film ends - then, in the credits, we learn that Friedrich has died of a sudden illness just months after filming had ended. When I saw this, I just sat and sobbed - it had taken the breath out of me. I felt so moved for "Kuddel" and his loss, I so wished that I could have learned something of his fate as a single man. *** End of spoiler ***
More than anything else, this film illustrates that, for all our differences, we as humans are all very similar, and tend to share the same feelings and emotions, regardless of how they are directed. I would highly recommend this moving film to anyone.
*** Possible spoiler ahead *** Just minutes after we hear the men reading some early letters to each other declaring their love and devotion, the film ends - then, in the credits, we learn that Friedrich has died of a sudden illness just months after filming had ended. When I saw this, I just sat and sobbed - it had taken the breath out of me. I felt so moved for "Kuddel" and his loss, I so wished that I could have learned something of his fate as a single man. *** End of spoiler ***
More than anything else, this film illustrates that, for all our differences, we as humans are all very similar, and tend to share the same feelings and emotions, regardless of how they are directed. I would highly recommend this moving film to anyone.
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