By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 5 cats
Director: Jan Ole Gerster
Starring: Andreas Schröders | Justus von Dohnányi | Katharina Hauck | Katharina Schüttler | Tom Schilling
Original language title: Oh Boy
Country: germany
Year: 2014
Running time: 83
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1954701/combined
Bruce says: “Some films resonate so profoundly with me that I can feel myself embodied in one of the characters. For me, Niko Fischer (Tom Schilling) is one of those characters. Niko transports me back to my twenties. Each move, gesture, expression is one that is familiar. Had A COFFEE IN BERLIN been released several decades ago, no doubt I would have watched it over and over looking for clues for getting a grip on my life.
“A COFFEE IN BERLIN is a day in the life of Niko. He begins the day in bed with his girlfriend Elli who pressures him to commit his time. Reluctant and evasive, Niko escapes by vague utterings of ‘lots to do’ and ‘a lot on my schedule.’ Truth is Niko has no plans. When he gets back to his flat Niko retrieves his mail and discovers he is summoned for a psychological interview as a result of a DUI. Balking at the personal nature of the questions, Niko finds an unsympathetic bureaucrat on the other side of the desk. His license is revoked. Niko is in dire need of coffee.
“Next, Niko’s bank card is swallowed by the ATM. The fancy coffee shop where he orders a coffee only has high end fare, no simple coffees. He is just short of cash to pay. Part of the afternoon is spent with his friend Matze who takes him to a film shoot. At a coffee shop Niko orders a coffee only to discover the coffee machine is broken. Julika, a classmate from grade school, spots Niko and Matze and invites them to a performance at 9:00 that night. Niko finally hooks up with his father at the country club where he is practicing on the driving range. Niko’s father confesses he is the one who took away the bank card by closing the account. He then explains why.
“Giving away more details will eliminate all hope of surprise for anyone who reads this review before seeing the film. Niko struggles to make sense of the world around him, slowly realizing that what he needs is to make sense of himself. He is a complicated young man: arrogant, rude, loving, considerate, irresponsible, empathetic, evasive, charming, distant and magnetic. That’s a lot to digest in a day’s worth of thinking.
“The superb music score, black and white cinematography and acting are all perfectly integrated into a satisfying whole. In trying to imagine viewing A COFFEE IN BERLIN without any frame of reference, I’m not sure how effective it might be. Yet, Niko is an engaging young man from many points of view, and the characters who cross his path in the course of a single day might make even John Waters envious. 5 cats”
Kyle says: “I write to agree with this assessment of A COFFEE IN BERLIN and urgently recommend the film to fellow Chlotrudis members. It seems tome a perfect example of a title that pops up out of nowhere (It didn’t: Check out its IMDB listing for numerous citations from German critics and awards groups, as well as European film festivals.), observes its characters compassionately, offers multiple surprises, respects the intelligence of its viewers, and stays with one for days later. Lead actor Tom Schilling (in one of 2014’s best performances, with the simplicity of seeming to do nothing, but registering everything), writer and director Jan Ole Gerster, and cinematographer Philipp Kirsamer, whose exemplary black-and-white artistry is particularly noteworthy, are all worthy of Chlotrudis award consideration. In any case, the Netflix DVD is essential cinema. Don’t miss this one. 5 cats”
Julie says: “5 cats for me as well. This film was excellent and amazing how it was put together. I really enjoyed listening to the interview with the director on this one. A must see! It was done in black and white and has a live score by a jazz ensemble(2 guys as I recall) the director found at a bar at the 9th hour – literally the film screened to test audiences with different music ( I believe)…. the issue was that they did not have a big budget to use the music they originally wanted but then ended up with 2 guys who created and played custom music for the film. When you see it all come together, it’s pretty amazing!”
Thom says: “The original title of this stunner was OH BOY but this latest title is perfection itself, alas I can’t tell you the reason for the change but it fits the film like a rare pearl. The film won a slew of major awards at the 2013 German Film Awards but it hadn’t hit my radar until the film was highly praised by friend Bruce to the point of it being his #1 film of 2014 and when it appeared at Le Video I snapped it up pronto.
“I naturally started out with high expectations and it almost immediately hit the hot spot. The scene that caught my highest link was one where a group of the characters started arguing over something incidental. Faithfully the subtitles indicate the growing cacophony of voices until suddenly the translation stops, as anyone in the scene would be unable to understand anyone else. It reminded me of a scene from Krzysztof Kieslowski’s brilliant BLUE where Juliette Binoche as Julie Vignon-de Courcy throws a recent musical composition into a garbage truck and the sound track which is playing her work crumples as the score disintegrates. (An aside, I wonder if Kieslowski was influenced by the Margaret/Walter Keane fiasco). But from then on in A COFFEE IN BERLIN I was hooked as scene after delightful scene presented a delicious Berlin to our eyes.
“In the film a young man, Niko Fischer (a striking performance from Tom Schilling, known for BEFORE THE FALL, AGNES & HIS BROTHERS, & THE BAADER MEINHOF COMPLEX) who has dropped out of university and just walked out on his girlfriend. Throughout the day he wanders through Berlin (can’t wait to hear from readers who live in Berlin) hooking up with his father, friends, & various acquaintances, & functionaries (a scene with a DMV official is shockingly funny). His meanderings are pensive, even melancholic, but not without great, surreal, black humour. I, at first, questioned the use of black & white photography (sensationally lit) but finally it made total sense. A great sound track perked the progress of the film. Amazing that this is a first feature for the director and I, for one, look forward to a long and fabulous career. 5 cats”