By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3 cats
Director: Leander Haussmann
Starring: Christien Ulmen | Detliev Buck | Katja Danowski
Original language title: Herr Lehmann
Country: germany
Year: 2004
Running time: 115
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0322545/reference
Bruce says: “Christien Ulmen got his start in show business as a German MTV host. This is his second feature film and he could become a major star. He has the charm and intelligence of Paul Rudd (I happen to be a big fan, particularly of his stage acting) and the bumbling confusion of Dustin Hoffman in THE GRADUATE. His performance as Frank Lehmann in BERLIN BLUES is beautifully executed. Frank Lehmann is a male equivalent of MORVERN CALLAR – we perceive that he is trying to find himself, but we are not sure exactly what brought him to this point in time and what really makes him tick.
“The film opens with a delightful confrontation with a pit bull at daybreak when Frank is on his way home from the night spot where he tends bar. There is something about Frank that makes everyone address him as Herr Lehmann (the title of the film in Germany), then immediately lapse into the familiar form of ‘you’ when addressing him. This paradox mirrors the man. He draws people in with his charm, then pushes them away with one technique or another. Or vice-versa. Herr Push-Pull.
“Frank unexpectedly falls in love with Katrin (Katja Danowski) a new chef at the restaurant where his close friend Karl (Detliev Buck) works. It is not exactly love at first sight. Their first encounter is quite volatile. Love turns out to be a more difficult venture than Frank had thought. Karl meanwhile is behaving strangely, erratically, and everyone is worried. A mysterious stranger, Rainer (Janek Rieke) starts turning up at every bar and restaurant where Frank and his friends hang out. No one knows who he is or why he keeps hanging out nearby. One funny scene has Frank and his friends stopping for a drink in a gay bar. Minutes later, in comes Rainer.
“When Frank’s parents come to town it is ostensibly to see their son. It turns out they have a hidden agenda. They want him to smuggle some cash into East Germany. He is supposed to meet Katrin ‘over the wall’ to do some sightseeing after the delivery. Frank never shows up. Katrin is perplexed. Who should appear but the ubiquitous Rainer.
“Struggles with love and friendship take their toll. As the Berlin wall comes down shortly thereafter, Frank feels the symbolic meaning in his own life. It’s time for a change.
“BERLIN BLUES is certainly enjoyable but offers a somewhat superficial glimpse of its characters. In some scenes, Haussmann is wildly successful in capturing the moment. However, the pieces don’t fit together as well as they should. Haussmann never digs deep enough to create the right overall tone. 3 cats”