"Schweigeminute" is a German/Danish co-production from 2016, so still a relatively new and fresh movie. This is in the German language and pretty short actually, only runs for 80 minutes roughly without credits. The director is Thorsten Schmidt and he is also one of several people who adapted the original work by Siegfried Lenz. It is a small screen release and the story of a young man who falls in love with his (considerably older) English teacher. As the film is set several decades in the past, this is an even bigger taboo than it would be today. But there are more aspects in here other than society and what they are thinking. It is also about the professional lives of the two and the boy's career prospects for example. In addition we get a couple scenes too in which we witness how the two get closer. For me, it was a pretty close decision as well if I'd give this one two or three stars out of five as honestly eventually nothing really stands out and there are moments in here where the film goes for cheap thrills that never work well in a film's favor. And it also sounds pretentious as well at times. However, it seems that Lenz' base material (especially the tragic twist towards the end that makes the film much more than a love story) is good enough here to make the film work as a whole and I also think they did mostly a good job with all the water references who really add a lot to the general tone and atmosphere I guess. Besides, I have liked Koschitz for a long time and Nay is also one of the German actors from his generation that I prefer over most other. So lets be generous and give this film a thumbs-up. It's nothing groundbreaking, but a pretty decent watch for slightly under 1.5 hours. Go check it out.
11 Reviews
Agreeable Romance
clifee5729 January 2021
Sags a little midway, but recovers gracefully into a spellbinding climax epitomising what may be the essense of 'true love'. Excellent performances from the leads, especially the young man; his facial expressions convey so much.
A beautiful movie
rum255016 May 2022
This movie is about a taboo affair. This kind of stories might have been told in movies numerous times but I really enjoyed this one due to a few reasons. Mesmerizing cinematography is a main strong point. Picture-postcard-like scenaries were ample and was a pleasure to watch. I also liked the chemistry between the two leads. Period backdrop is another attractive aspect.
nothing new. at the first sigh
Kirpianuscus10 May 2017
a love story. at the first sigh, like many others. forbidden, strange, old sin who transforms the student and the teacher in parts of scandal. but this film seems bee different. first, for the delicate poetry. then - for the performance of Julia Koschitz who reminds a version of Audrey Hepburn. it is a drawing of states of soul. beautiful mix of love and death. provocative in a special manner. honest, fragile, delicate. remembering Medieval stories. about ideal, destiny and sacrifice. seductive. and bitter. and it is enough.
Quite Good
deshan-785804 August 2021
Slow. Careful. Beautiful.
ioandiankov25 July 2017
Julia Koschitz is a emotionally wounded woman coming back from London to her hometown, where she is hired to be an English teacher. A student of hers played by Jonas Nay falls in love with her and tries to make her love him back.
A classic story, well made and beautifully directed. I absolutely loved it! I haven't watched a movie this touching with so little in it. It's short, goes on point. Pretty much no stupidity or at least not as noticeable as in most movies.
The transition between the future and the past are so well done. The actors play is absolutely on point.
The protagonists never made me feel like they are not real people. The actors did amazing job at portraying a forbidden relationship in a conservative town.
A classic story, well made and beautifully directed. I absolutely loved it! I haven't watched a movie this touching with so little in it. It's short, goes on point. Pretty much no stupidity or at least not as noticeable as in most movies.
The transition between the future and the past are so well done. The actors play is absolutely on point.
The protagonists never made me feel like they are not real people. The actors did amazing job at portraying a forbidden relationship in a conservative town.
Did Everyone Miss It? (Caution: Contains SPOILER)
howlensmith1 October 2018
Warning: Spoilers
This REMARKABLE movie contains a hidden drama that most reviewers have completely missed! Yes, superficially this film is a lovely story of forbidden love and loss, with masterful direction and cinematography, but there is much more to this story.
HERE IS THE SPOILER, STOP HERE IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THE MOVIE
But beyond the love story, this film is the best and most imaginative rendition of the ancient classic legend: The murderous mermaid. The beautiful young schoolteacher is in fact a serial killer, a mermaid, who has set her sights on one of her students, who will become another of her victims. The entire movie is very cleverly sprinkled with clues from start to finish. Like sailors of yore who were enticed by sirens to their death on the rocks, the love-stricken student, played to absolute perfection by Jonas Nay, is doomed from the beginning when the homicidal mermaid sets her sights on him at an outdoor festival. In a wonderfully imaginative scene, an octopus attempts to derail the mermaid's plans but she fights him off, and lures her victim to his ultimate demise. The rest of the film exquisitely plays out the mermaid's deadly scheme in tantalizing detail.
This film is a stunning cinematographic accomplishment which makes for incredibly satisfying viewing.
HERE IS THE SPOILER, STOP HERE IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THE MOVIE
But beyond the love story, this film is the best and most imaginative rendition of the ancient classic legend: The murderous mermaid. The beautiful young schoolteacher is in fact a serial killer, a mermaid, who has set her sights on one of her students, who will become another of her victims. The entire movie is very cleverly sprinkled with clues from start to finish. Like sailors of yore who were enticed by sirens to their death on the rocks, the love-stricken student, played to absolute perfection by Jonas Nay, is doomed from the beginning when the homicidal mermaid sets her sights on him at an outdoor festival. In a wonderfully imaginative scene, an octopus attempts to derail the mermaid's plans but she fights him off, and lures her victim to his ultimate demise. The rest of the film exquisitely plays out the mermaid's deadly scheme in tantalizing detail.
This film is a stunning cinematographic accomplishment which makes for incredibly satisfying viewing.
Artistically directed
stellaxy27 October 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Right after watching the movie, I sent a note to my German friend to recommend it.
It's about forbidden love. Knowing this is a German movie, and thinking of Gothe's The Sorrows of Young Werther, I found it natural the movie ended this way. Sad. But I think it's more true to human hearts than tireless American uplifting optimism.
The movie is artistically directed with beautiful music played along. It's indeed a good break from my hustling bustling metropolitan life.
It's about forbidden love. Knowing this is a German movie, and thinking of Gothe's The Sorrows of Young Werther, I found it natural the movie ended this way. Sad. But I think it's more true to human hearts than tireless American uplifting optimism.
The movie is artistically directed with beautiful music played along. It's indeed a good break from my hustling bustling metropolitan life.
Can't take it out of my head!
narra-ramji27 July 2019
Recommended
littlereata-254272 November 2018
Warning: Spoilers
It's likely many of us fell for a teacher in our teens. Wonderful scenery, simple lifestyle and strict moral standards are the background for this love story. Fine performances, some beautiful camerawork make this an enjoyable film.
A slim film about love and loss, shot against the background of landscapes of incredible beauty.
Rainzzz19 April 2022
So it happened that she was a teacher 'for 30', and he is her 18-year-old student. But it is beautiful, clockwork: guitar, volleyball ball, sail - everything arms in her hands, not in all 18-year-old girls so much thirst for life! How to fall in love with such?
And he is not judged by the years, with a sense of self (even his beloved is not allowed to undesecely reduce the assessment!). It was he, a graduation class schoolboy, builds plans for their common future ("in a year you will not be my teacher") and most importantly - believes in this future!
In addition, he is already doing very practical steps to implement it (for example, it is completely calmly asking for a walked father salary for work in the family enterprise). Even the fact that Christian does not hide from parents with the general photo with Stella, indicates his confidence in himself and his love.
Stella's feelings are not so unequivocal, she already has an unsuccessful experience of relationships, in addition, it gives her public opinion and as a result, it is more solid and adults it is he, and not she.
And if it did not happen what happened, most likely, they would have lived long and happily, like, for example, the new French president with his wife, who was his own teacher who fell in love with a schoolboy and managed to conquer.
It is noteworthy that at one of the filmites in the discussion of this film there are many feedback from the touched men who survived such feelings in his youth. That is, the situation described in the film (and before in the story of Siegfried Lenza), not new and not original, but in the 'minute of silence' it is shown so sincerely and it is delicate that the film is worthy of repeated revision and evaluation
10 of 10.
And he is not judged by the years, with a sense of self (even his beloved is not allowed to undesecely reduce the assessment!). It was he, a graduation class schoolboy, builds plans for their common future ("in a year you will not be my teacher") and most importantly - believes in this future!
In addition, he is already doing very practical steps to implement it (for example, it is completely calmly asking for a walked father salary for work in the family enterprise). Even the fact that Christian does not hide from parents with the general photo with Stella, indicates his confidence in himself and his love.
Stella's feelings are not so unequivocal, she already has an unsuccessful experience of relationships, in addition, it gives her public opinion and as a result, it is more solid and adults it is he, and not she.
And if it did not happen what happened, most likely, they would have lived long and happily, like, for example, the new French president with his wife, who was his own teacher who fell in love with a schoolboy and managed to conquer.
It is noteworthy that at one of the filmites in the discussion of this film there are many feedback from the touched men who survived such feelings in his youth. That is, the situation described in the film (and before in the story of Siegfried Lenza), not new and not original, but in the 'minute of silence' it is shown so sincerely and it is delicate that the film is worthy of repeated revision and evaluation
10 of 10.
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