Die Vierhändige

Normally I'm not the genre-film-type, but the premise of this film sounded intriguing--also, I like stories with strong/tough female characters. My expectations weren't that high, though I'm open for surprises. And, boy, was I blown away! The actresses are fantastic, the screenplay is well written and effectively executed. The suspense builds early on and never let's off until the final nail-biting minutes. You never know what to expect from the next scene, you'll be surprised, thrilled and totally engaged in the story. I would recommend this film to anyone with a taste for genre-fare, thrillers, or fine cinema in general. As a woman I'm especially excited that 'Die Vierhändige' centers on strong female protagonists and doesn't shy away from bending the gender-rules in cinema. At least a little bit. Just watch it!

Die Vierhändige/Four Hands is an accomplished, intelligent and remarkable film that keeps viewers at the edges of their seats. Twisting and turning, it engages both the senses and the mind. The story about two sisters' struggle with the death of their parents at a young age addresses themes of identity, responsibility and retaliation through genre-tropes and considerable filmmaking talent.

Die Vierhändige is the work of a technically adept filmmaker, crew and a talented cast. Writer-Director Oliver Kienle shows great skill in telling a gripping story. Through atmospheric and well-composed images (courtesy of cinematographer Yoshi Heimrath) and rhythmic montage (editor: Philipp Thomas) this thriller sets itself apart from most contemporary German films. It is closer to Scandinavian cinema or American genre-films in style and feel.

Though the subject matter is bleak at times, the film provides an authentic and comprehensible treatment of feelings of loss, love, loneliness and staying strong in a seemingly dismal situation. Furthermore it is a film with strong female lead characters, compellingly portrayed by Frida-Lovisa Hamann and Friederike Becht.

So watch it if it runs in a theater near you. If not, watch it on DVD, BluRay or VoD. I strongly recommend this film to anyone who wants to broaden their horizon regarding European and German cinema.

I saw this film at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival and was pleasantly surprised. 'Four Hands' is a nice piece of well-made cinema, riveting, gripping and surprising. I wouldn't consider myself a genre-aficionado but I'm always open for a thriller or crime-film that surpasses the norm. This film avoids the standard formula in that it tells a genuine, uncompromising story, while it nods elegantly to other movies of the same vein without copying them. There are familiar motives and characterizations the audience will recognize and relate to: a revenge plot, existential fear, identity conflict, a whodunit--though writer/director Oliver Kienle knows how to bend expectations while telling a compelling story. Every other scene there's a nice twist or innovative idea that keeps the engine running and the audience on the edge of their seats. Although 'Four Hands' doesn't reinvent the wheel it is without question one of the best films I saw in a while.

'Die Vierhändige' ('Four Hands' in English) is an author movie written and directed by German filmmaker Oliver Kienle. It is a film that surprised me (for the better) by the quality and expressiveness of the image and by the intensity of the actors' acting. It demands attention to watch, and there is a danger that it will lose some of its audience in the middle, especially those who are used to the logical, deterministic and linear plots of German detective films. The authors emphasized the psychological side and the trauma suffered by the characters. The degree of ambiguity of the story allows different interpretations according to the personal perspective of each of the viewers. It's not an easy movie to watch, but it's interesting and well-made enough to be worth watching. Those who will - more or less easily - overcome the difficult moments of the story will be rewarded.

It's one of those movies of which you can say very little about the story so as not to spoil the enjoyment and interest of future viewers. Two sisters witness in their early childhood the brutal murder of their parents. The experience traumatizes them and binds them to each other for the rest of their lives. When the assassins are released - after serving their 20-year sentences - their destinies are again dramatically influenced.

Oliver Kienle's script proposes an interesting and original combination. The film has only a handful ofc significant characters (the sisters, a nurse who befriends one of them, the criminals who appear in only one scene each) and yet the entire action takes place amidst the crowded cities and institutions of contemporary Germany. A house also appears, oddly placed in the landscape, suggesting the strange things that happen in it. The cinematography by Yoshi Heimrath is designed in a post-Hitchcockian style, combining chamber drama with hallucinatory outdoor scenes, in hospitals, in discotheques, in concert halls. There is a lot of darkness in this film, the colors when they appear are also blurred. The disorientation of the heroes is also transmitted to the audience along with a feeling of insecurity about the understanding of what we see on the screen. Frida-Lovisa Hamann and Friederike Becht create memorable roles as the two sisters. Christoph Letkowski should provide a balancing act in the role of the character who should but mostly fails to represent a point of emotional stability. Music plays an important role in the film, and the soundtrack created by Heiko Maile completed with fragments of classical music performed on the piano contributes to the atmosphere of suspense and uncertainty. 'Die Vierhändige' is a good psychological thriller, one of the well-made films in this genre that I have seen lately.

I saw this film as a recommendation of a friend and I am glad he did so. At first I was hesitant, because German films are mostly not my cup of tea. This one is different: It is a dark, atmospheric, effective piece of cinema, more reminiscent of Danish or Swedish crime thrillers or American Independent Cinema. The direction is on point, the performances remarkable (didn't know the lead-actresses before, now I do!), the story is simple but captivating, here and there a little twisted, without giving too much away. Especially the mood and the images stayed in my mind, after I left the screening. I'd definitely watch it again!