I've watched plenty of movies or episodes of TV shows that were filled with awkward moments, but 'Halbschatten' elevates those feelings of disquiet and apprehension to an entirely new level. So much of this feature is a veritable poster child for social anxiety, as the protagonist's would-be charming summer takes one cringe-worthy turn after another, and Merle is hard-pressed to catch a break. All due credit to star Anne Ratte-Polle, realizing Merle's bad luck and earnest effort with fantastic poise and nuance as the poor woman struggles to maintain a calm demeanor.
The film sustains a pointedly restrained tone. There's no score or music beyond what may be heard in passing in a scene, no especial emotional thrust, and what tension or turmoil we do get is emphatically downplayed. Further cementing the muted quality, filmmaker Nicolas Wackerbarth arranges no few stationary shots in which characters and eventfulness may come and go - or maybe they're just glimpses of life passing by as the story unfolds, with no real connection to the narrative. It's a very detached, almost aloof presentation, and surely off-putting for many viewers. Yet for all the anxiousness that the film elicits, and its dispassionate approach to storytelling - this is low-key fascinating.
There is a specific plot in 'Halbschatten,' yet it's very loose, and mostly just a framework by which to orientate the scenes as they build the whole. Characters and dialogue, too, seem mostly just to be in service to the solid scene writing that constructs this distinctly uncomfortable tableau. Whoever it is that Merle is interacting with - beau Romuald's rather boldly precocious children, or others about town - even her moments of peace don't last long, and her best attempts to get along don't quite have the desired effect. The protagonist is readily sympathetic through it all - in spirit if not in detail, it's so easy to identify with the series of unfortunate events Merle experiences.
While I certainly enjoyed it, a part of me does wonder if I'm being too generous in my regard. To be honest I'm not sure who I would recommend this to, or under what circumstances: Wackerbarth's tack here is quiet and subdued, consciously sidestepping conveyance of the impact of the drama at hand, or of anything particularly striking or vivid. This is a very singularly focused, small-time feature intended for a very niche audience - but it also never pretends otherwise. It's the viewer who is receptive to the most underhanded and unbothered of movies who will find the most value here. With all that said, while I'm still not entirely sure how I feel about it, I'm glad I took the time to watch 'Halbschatten,' and that perhaps says more than anything else could.
