Talking About the Weather (2022) User Reviews

Nice Sentiment But Needs Better Balance

[brentsbulletinboard · 6/10 · 5 March 2023]

What truly makes us happy in life? Is it our ability to impress others with our accomplishments and an impressive body of knowledge? Or is it the simple things, like family, friendly conversation and spending time in the company of those we love? Those are the questions posed in writer-director Annika Pinske's debut feature. The film tells the story of Clara, a middle-aged college lecturer and doctoral candidate (Anne Schäfer) living in Berlin, who seems confused and somewhat uncomfortable with her existence. That gets called into questions when she pays a weekend visit to her hometown in rural eastern Germany, a community that was once part of Communist East Germany and has had trouble adjusting to Western economic and social ways. The contrasts between these two locales couldn't be more extreme - an academic ivory tower in a cosmopolitan city and a folksy, economically challenged village where life is comparatively simple. The differences in atmosphere and attitudes are also palpable; Clara's life in Berlin is filled with toxic psudointellectual toadies deeply engaged in mental masturbation and professional one-upsmanship, while the country folk - who are often looked down upon as homespun rubes - converse about things like the weather, the arrangement of items on platters of food and the people around them. The question for Clara then becomes, which of these options is more fulfilling? This sentiment may not be especially original, though it's good for us as social beings to be reminded of it now and then, and that's what this film seeks to achieve. Regrettably, it doesn't pull off that accomplishment as well as it might have. The opening segment, before Clara embarks on her trip, goes on far too long and really runs the stilted intellectual discussions between her and her peers into the ground, making viewers wonder what exactly are they watching. It's only when we see her out of her collegiate element that the purpose behind much of what preceded it becomes clear, and that subsequent segment, unfortunately, tends to get short shrift and is often presented in a fashion whose message and character are a little too obvious. Better balance in the writing, editing and directing would have helped immeasurably and made the film and its meaning more effective. But, then, for a first-time feature, I suppose it takes a new director some time to get these kinds of things sorted out a little better, and that's apparent in the final product here. It represents a nice try for a filmmaker who appears to have some potential but who needs to get the kinks worked out of her material going forward.

A lot of plots that don't connect with each other

[fairy396 · 4/10 · 8 September 2023]

When I watched the ending and saw her back to her apartment, I saw her boyfriend and friend and thought "oh yeah, these guys were in the beginning of the movie, I forgot them, it felt like a lifetime ago!" and it is not the first movie that did that, but the detail is that this movie consists of many random plots that, as I said, aren't connected or even resolved. Not even the main theme is resolved: she says at some point that she wish she could talk to her mother about more than the weather, the answer she received was "damned if I do, damned if I don't" and their communication didn't improve.

First she is teaching at the university, to a party from work, then she's discussing with her work colleagues, then she's home talking to her boyfriend (who says the relationship is cold despite she says she loves him), then she goes to see her daughter (who demonstrates not to be too close to her), who lives with her father, they travel, meet the main character's mother, a friend (who she's attracted to, maybe he's a former boyfriend), then there's a party, she and the friend mentioned above dance and almost cheat on their partners, but then she stops the dance and leaves, then she goes to the market with her mother and daughter, then she says goodbye and goes back to her home and meet her boyfriend and friend. Maybe I put some stuff in the wrong order, but the point stands: you cannot make a connection or see a resolution.

Also, when she says goodbye to her mother, she kisses her on the lips and that felt so inappropriate and out of place. A goodbye hug would have been better, warmer and more sensitive.

The scenes that I liked the most:

• when the main character and her daughter witness a child being hit by his mother and they express disgust towards it, and later she complains about it to her mother. I literally said "thank you, I love you" because I hate violence against children and like it when people stand against it. I wish it was done more often in fiction and in real life.

• when she teaches her students that they need to know whether someone (a woman, in the subject) wants to be saved before they offer their help.

• when the main character discusses with some guys who are not arguing with good faith (the subject was related to female representation if I remember well), and when they get dismissive she says "if you don't want to know what I think, don't ask my opinion". I liked that!

I like many of the ideas presented in this film. However, their execution leaves something to be desired.

How is the weather?

[kosmasp · 8/10 · 14 July 2023]

No pun intended - considering the climate change we endure, one may think there's nothing wrong with talking about the weather ... of course the title refers to the mundane conversations we have. Also known as small talk. And it is about a woman trying to figure things out - for her mostly of course.

Well told and really well played too. Of course you have to love dramas and what the movie is trying to tell you. If you are down with that, the movie has a few surprises for you along the way and will not bore you one minute - of course you know what that means, if that is not the case. Drama is an interesting genre ... and everyday life can be ... fun amongst many other things ...