Das Mädchen Rosemarie

Although I came into the movie theater with high expectations for this film (which had been selected for my film class) I left a bit disappointed and a bit more confused. In short, I didn't like this movie. Artistically the movie was pleasing. The camera work was smooth and the shots were from creative angles (such as when Rosemarie visited her old domicile and the shot was of her feet walking in, somewhat showing how she was above that life now) and the scenes flowed nicely from one to the next. Content and plot-line were my biggest disappointments with this movie. Firstly, all of the characters in this film are static. There seems to be little character development in any of the characters. Each character interacts starkly with the next and neither seems to learn much from the next. Secondly, the plot-line in this movie was loose. The end of the film left many avenues open and some of the plot was not even tied together.

For example, the small apartment where Rosemarie lived at the beginning of the film was not explained at all during the film. Even the men who lived in the apartment weren't explained in effect or purpose. The story also switched from being somewhat comical, to stark and realistic, to unrealistic at the end. In short, this is a well-done movie that I didn't like.

In Das Mädchen Rosemarie, I felt very unsatisfied from the story line. I had a difficult time getting into the time of the movie to let go of reality. The acting was very cut and dry. No one really showed any type of real emotional and powerful acting. My favorite part in the movie was at the dinner party when the wives and then everyone started jumping in the pool for money. Thinking about recent

movies I thought of Pretty Woman with a lot less emotion and entertainment

value. Since I was not very into the plot and action taking place on the screen I was very focused on the camera movements and angles. I am not a historian, but I felt like the car scenes were probably innovative. Especially during Rosemarie and Hartog's trip to the club for lunch when it went up and over he car.

My final comments on this movie, would be to go see, but don't expect to be

moved by the acting of engaged by the plot. See this movie to pick up on the camera techniques and angles.

A real art film,with bizarre music (especially the recurring music from the film's opening),great camera movements,and a film making technique that was truly ahead of it's time-you'll grin knowingly when you see the final scene.Unfortunately,the remake adopted none of the film's weird and bizarre stylings,instead only going for a straightforward reworking of the story.

Apart from being a well-made film, 'Das Mädchen Rosemarie' (= German for 'the girl Rosemarie') reflects very well the big dilemma in the 1950's West Germany of Chancellor Conrad Adenauer.

Conrad Adenauer lives on as one of Germany's great statesmen. He was responsible for the 'Wirtschaftswunder' (= German for 'the economic miracle', relating to West Germany's speedy recovery from the extensive damages of the lost Second World War). Adenauer rebuilt his country, and led it politically into the Western influence of the USA - making it a member of NATO.

However, in one respect Adenauer failed: he did not deal effectively with the many Nazi-sympathizers in his country. In particular with those in its leading circles. There were just too many of them, and their abilities could not be missed for the re-building of the West German economy.

It may be hard for Americans to appreciate, but 'Das Mädchen Rosemarie' is made special by this issue. The film emphasizes on the bankrupt moral state of mind of these business leaders - their former involvement with Adolf Hitler and his Nazi's is clearly written on their foreheads. In this respect this film's main theme, prostitution, connects very well.

'Das Mädchen Rosemarie' even makes a historical document. I know of no other film dealing in such a clear, sharp and ruthless way with Germany's big post-war moral dilemma. A dilemma vanished by now, for the vast majority of these Hitler-infected leaders have died.

German director, Theile, did a great job of utilizing Hollywood with his filming techniques. The first thing that came to mind when watching this movie was ?Twilight Zone.? The camera movements, the angles, and the close-ups were very reminiscent of an old sci-fi movie. Watching Rosemarie forty-five years after it was first debuted was refreshing. There aren't many films with the same amount of character uniformity these days. Like the way in which the business men silently walked through scenes in queues. And how they all slowly drive the same car through the streets, wear the same clothes, and all have personal frustrations that Rosemarie exploited. All these traits added an eeriness to the film. The recurring, whirring sound effects of the revolving door were laughable. The two most bothersomme things were that it was obvious that many (if not all) of the street scenes were not shot on location, but rather on a closed studio set (though this made the scenes automaton-esque) and the subtitles weren't very precise to what the characters were really saying.

Perhaps I have little patience, but I was ready to leave towards the middle of the movie. Or perhaps I have little patience for movies or I didn?t like the sci-fi feel. But I stayed and found myself to be intrigued with the circular ending of the film?as the final scene reminds the viewer of the opening scene and leaves them questioning, 'Will she meet the same fate'?