Laurin

When I first saw this film in 1989, the director had just won the Bavarian Film Prize as "Best Rookie Director." However, I didn't know what to expect. I had been familiar with other modern German movies and was prepared to be disappointed. Just the opposite turned out to be true. The film had a dreamlike quality with beautiful photography, a haunting atmosphere and a gripping story. The music fit the film perfectly and I couldn't believe that the movie had been made by a first-time director. The story was not presented chronologically or sequentially, but was punctuated with flashbacks and "flashforwards," making it seem like a puzzle to be solved, as much as a story to be told. Although it had elements of a fairy tale, the sinister and symbolic elements conspired to make it seem more like a Gothic novel. It was an interesting combination of mystery, suspense, and psychological study, with historic elements thrown in. I came out of the theater knowing that there was hope for the modern German film. In recent years, I have seen the film again a number of times. Each time I see it, I seem to understand more and to find things that I hadn't previously noticed. Although some would put the film into the "horror" or "suspense" category, it is a world apart from a monster or slasher movie, although it has tinges of both. I heartily recommend the film to anyone who enjoys suspense. You will be sitting on the edge of your seat, especially during the final scene, and you will be thinking about the film for days to come.

This movie turned out to be quite a bit different then I thought it would be but in a good way. The subtitle would lead you to believe that Laurin is a horror movie but after a few minutes you realize it is something completely different. Previous comments refer to this movie as being surreal and I think that is about as close to an explanation as you can get. This is a gorgeously shot movie that utilizes great natural scenery combined with carefully chosen lighting which sets the mood in every scene. The director makes great use of imagery and color and overall this movie has a really ominous and eerie feeling to it all the way through. As I mentioned though, this isn't really a typical American "horror" movie considering the low body count. It is more cerebral then most horror movies and is artfully put together from beginning to end without being pretentious art house crap.

There are a wholllleeeee lot of interesting characters in this movie, many who have issues with repressed sexuality. The lead character Laurin sleeps in a crib and at first seems to be mentally age-regressed or slow...or something. Also present are the local Priest and his son who both seem to have a number of "issues" relating to childhood and sexuality. Don't forget the crossdressing sissy school-boy, the dope smoking granny, and spying on people in the bathtub.

If you're looking for gore or high body count then keep going but if you are open to something a little more in the vein of maybe David Lynch then I highly recommend Laurin.

This movie had great impact on me. It is absolutley brilliant shot, in fact the whole movie looks like a dream. The story is a dark fairytale, which is sure to give you the creeps and full of unexpected plottwists. This is probably the best german movie ever made.

Laurin is quite simply an obscure masterpiece of surrealism. Beautifully filmed and extremely atmospheric throughout. The story takes place at the turn of the 20th century, and even though the film is shot in color...it appears as though it could have really been filmed back then! The brilliant music score is also a high point. It's very haunting and otherworldly, and works absolutely perfectly in the film. To call Laurin anything less than thought provoking would be a grave understatement. It's one movie that will haunt your mind long after it ends. To classify Laurin into any one genre is next to impossible. The young actress who plays Laurin is extraordinarily beautiful and quite talented. Whatever happened to her?!?

This film is obviously rarely seen or heard of and that's a real shame. It was one of the few times where I actually bought a German DVD import (released by e.m.s.) without ever previously viewing the movie before. I don't regret it at all in this instance! Many great bonus features on the DVD such as deleted/extended scenes, director interview, a making-of featurette, photos, and the entire soundtrack as bonus DVD-Audio tracks. Much of the bonus material is in German, yet still fun to watch.

There's no use in denying it, I was deeply disappointed after my viewing of "Laurin". With its newly reestablished cult-status, the exclusively praising reviews here on IMDb & in specialized magazines, and - most of all - the chilling premise of a child murderer roaming around in a small German port town in the early 1900s, I was 200% convinced "Laurin" was destined to become a personal favorite, and perhaps even a rare 10/10 rating.

But alas, either my expectations were set far too high (likely), or Robert Sigl's acclaimed debut isn't as darkly twisted, compelling, and genius as others say. The film nevertheless remains worthwhile and even recommend viewing for fans of gothic horror and macabre fairy tales, though. It features an uncanny and slow-brooding atmosphere, a few terrifying highlights, an intriguing coming-of-ace sub context, and an unforgettable climax. Admittedly this is a lot more than in most other movies I watch, so maybe I should just shut up.

When Laurin's father leaves again for many months of work at sea, the young teenage girl is left behind with her pregnant mother and sick grandmother. Agony strikes when her mother dies in suspicious circumstances, and a young gypsy child disappears in the village. Suddenly, all the adults (the pastor, the new schoolteacher, parents of classmates) start behaving strangely according to Laurin, and she has supernatural visions. Does her mother want to tell her something?

Sigl's film is at its best and utmost powerful when it's a true gothic nightmare! The sequences taking place during a thunderstorm at night in the graveyard, or when Laurin discovers the lair of the killer, can easily rival with the most haunting moments in Hammer movies. The beginning and the ending of "Laurin" are great, but unfortunately not much of importance happens during the whole middle part. Our young protagonist clashes back and forth between childhood and adulthood, there are vague hints of child abuse, and daily life in the classroom is also very challenging, but it all proceeds very slowly and without unsettling scenes. The decors, the music, and the use of colors are stunning. It's a pity (according to me) the film is only available in English and, to my knowledge, doesn't exist in German/Hungarian with subtitles. Probably this was to appeal to the international film-festival circuit, but it affects the credibility and the acting performances.