Hungarian-German film from the '80s that focuses on a prominent German actor faced with a dilemma with the coming to power of the Nazis in 1930s Germany. Klaus Maria Brandauer plays said actor with as much skill and overall prowess as any powerhouse performance I've ever seen. It reminded me of movies like There Will Be Blood, where the main character is the main focus of the entire movie, with everything revolving around his/her feelings, with their actions effecting the outcome of the film all together.
Unfortunately aside from the great performance, the film is rather disappointing, not because it's a poor film, but because it can't really compete with what Brandauer is doing on the screen. He's almost conveying so much energy/talent, that the efforts of the director and supporting cast are almost obsolete. I could watch a one man show featuring Brandauer and get out of it the same as watching the movie, which at 144 mins. is a bit too long. Overall though it succeeds as a decent film, with just an amazing central performance. The path that Branndauer's character (Hendrik Hoefgen) takes is one that anyone could have taken to avoid exile and lack of work in a foreign country, as was the path that many German intellectuals took during this period of time. So it's an interesting situation with good/bad consequences, with the full weight of the bad not really being able to be seen until it's too late. Check it out for the performance alone, well worth it.
Unfortunately aside from the great performance, the film is rather disappointing, not because it's a poor film, but because it can't really compete with what Brandauer is doing on the screen. He's almost conveying so much energy/talent, that the efforts of the director and supporting cast are almost obsolete. I could watch a one man show featuring Brandauer and get out of it the same as watching the movie, which at 144 mins. is a bit too long. Overall though it succeeds as a decent film, with just an amazing central performance. The path that Branndauer's character (Hendrik Hoefgen) takes is one that anyone could have taken to avoid exile and lack of work in a foreign country, as was the path that many German intellectuals took during this period of time. So it's an interesting situation with good/bad consequences, with the full weight of the bad not really being able to be seen until it's too late. Check it out for the performance alone, well worth it.
