Ab nach Deutschland

A funny romantic comedy dealing with two young Spanish men , Hugo (Yon González) and Braulio (Julián López) with an university education , they are tired of a country where never goes nothing and full of corruption , funds cuts as well as their unemployment . Until one day appears in a TV program , an individual (Arturo Valls) , an immigrant telling wonders on Germany and its people and both of them excited about the stories that he explains , decide then to move to Berlin to find a new life and to finish their out of work situation . Hugo and Braulio decide try his luck traveling to Germany , it all in order to help their families , as Hugo's father (Javier Cámara married to Carmen Machi) is unemployed person . However , the "German Dream" results a be a ¨bluf¨ and soon they will find out that finding a better living is not as easy as they expected . It begins at five o'clock in the morning , cleaning and serving at a ¨Palma Kebab Berlin¨, whose owner results to be the sympathetic Hakan (Younes Bachir) and wife Marisol (Malena Alterio) and concludes by midnight . Meanwhile , Hugo falls in love for gorgeous Carla (Blanca Suárez) .

This film is interesting to see , because of the bewildering as well as unfortunate situations that protagonists suffer are similarly happened to the new Spanish emigrants , as it is what we had to make thousands of Spaniards in order to earn the money out of the motherland . This is a bemusing film that contains hilarious sketches , tongue-in-check , grotesque incidents , but above all , it especially packs humor and irony ; concerning interesting issues as emigration and unemployment of a lost generation . Sitting in a strange middle ground and the stylishly enjoyable . What we want teaching is the status of some characters who share home in an apartment and working in Germany , and that they want everything to gain profits , it serves them in order to deliver their families . This ¨Perdiendo El Norte¨ also known as ¨Ab Nach Deutschland¨ bears remarkable resemblance to ¨Vente a Alemania Pepe¨ (1971) by Pedro Lazaga with Alfredo Landa ; in fact , it seems to be a remake adapted to contemporary times ; even the incombustible José Sacristán appears both films , here playing a retired old man with Alzheimer illness . It narrates the conflict between the traditional Spanish society and modernity that pushes each time with more force . Fun interpretations from Yon Gónzalez and Júlian López who attempt his luck traveling Berlin to find expectations and to bring to life the ¨German dream¨ . Support cast is frankly good , giving agreeable and catching acting as Malena Alterio , Úrsula Corberó , Miki Esparbé , Younes Bachir . And special mention for the always excellent : Javier Cámara , Carmen Machi and José Sacristán . Atmospheric musical score by Juanjo Javierre , including the classic song and film leitmotif : ¨Mi Querida España , Esta España Nuestra¨ by Cecilia . Colorful and evocative Cinematography by Isaac Vila .

The motion picture was professionally directed by Nacho G. Velilla who was born in Zaragoza, Aragón, where he often shoots his films . He is an expert on comedies and ¨Sitcom¨ , a notorious producer , director and writer , known for his TV series as ¨7 Vidas¨ (1999), ¨Aída¨ (2005) , ¨Gominólas¨, and some films as ¨Fuera De Carta¨ (2008) , ¨To Hell with the ugly¨ , ¨Villaviciosa De Al Lado¨ , ¨No Manches Frida¨, and this Box office successful ¨Perdiendo el Norte¨. Being most of them starred by his fetish actor : Javier Cámara .

Although never really leaving any Spanish behind. There are parts where they talk German, but overall you'd be excused if you thought they were still in Spain, what with them talking it so much. But there is nothing wrong with that - unless you think there is, just pointing out the facts and what is going on in the movie.

The movie itself feels a bit by the numbers. I don't mean that to be an insult, because it does have quite some merits, going by a formula that is and has been working for other movies. But it's also very predictable and you won't really be surprised by anything that will happen. There is at least one thing with a character who desperately wants to get pregnant, that adds a bit of spice to it all. But even that is played "straight". Still there is comedy, it's light and it was fine (while touching slightly on some social issues)

Maybe there was something lost in translation but this movie is so much better than the imdb rating reflects (currently 5.8). My partner and I (both native spanish speakers) laughed A LOT and really related to the characters. Great comedy!

Completely politically incorrect, full of xenophobic and unfunny jokes, even the romance didn't work, and the less affectionate always does well in the handsome, irresponsible, lazy and ill-mannered teenagers (in their 30s), all unpleasant even for a foul comedy, not even the attempt at drama and social criticism of unemployment helped... Weak...