Fabian

Fabian is the story of modern Germany between two wars and two ideals. It is written in a witty, bitter-sweet and unpretentious style and same goes for this film. What we are presented with in both formats is a nation in turmoil, that has lost its pride (they lost world war I), has no money (Germany was forced to forward awful amounts of reparation-payments to half of Europe after WWI), growing anger about those payments and a lack of orientation (politicaly). It reminds us of such talents as Tucholsky, Zweig, Brecht, Weill, Eisler and other big names from that time and space. This is big city elegance and decadence close to the eve of destruction but self control and reason-ability are still functioning halfway and it looks as though Fabian and his likes are to blame for what was to come soon enough. By remaining cool and rather inactive or disinterested in politics without being politically ignorant he, as millions of others, involuntarily helped the Nazis make it big although they must have sensed the danger ahead. It is obvious, that he had no future and therefore had to die. Fabian is a metaphor for Germany itself. Who wants to state whether the films captured that presumably very peculiar atmosphere of 1920/1930's Berlin? I can't since I was born too late to know. But the overall decadence, political struggles and carelessness are very present. The film walks on a tightrope by blending a basic up beat feel of carelessness with the harsh realities of crazy times in the bad sense of the word. The films isn't really displaying free form abstractions or personal interpretations as we would expect from highly profiled filmmakers. It follows the book and shows lots of respect to Mr Kästner, which I find OK. This film documents history and drastic political struggles on a very personal level. It makes history touchable and understandable. Mr Kästner originally intended to write books about the times when the Nazis ruled over Germany and noted lots of information in his personal journals/diaries but in the end he was too appalled by it all to go ahead and transform his notes into printed format.

The book by Erich Kästner, which this is based on, was a contemporary report about the life in Berlin between the two World Wars. The author demonstrated a cynical sense of what was to come: political doom. It is a pessimistic look on modern city life with crippled veterans in the streets, nazis fighting with communists, unemployment, a struggling government, a manipulative press and yet a wild nightlife with plenty of amusement in brothels.

Granted, the movie displays a great deal of these themes. Sadly, it fails to get the tone right. It felt like it aspired to be a romantic comedy at times. When the protagonist goes about his day cheerful whistle music kicks in to get us to the next scene. It convinces a carelessness within Fabian about his decaying environment which is not the point at all. The most important detail about the book was the protagonist's ironic comments about the lack of morality and the movie features little of this.

I can only recommend this movie to people who read the source material. It does have memorable scenes. But in total, I'll bet you'll have very different emotions.

When I think of the book "Fabian" by Erich Kästner, I think of a good and all in all a funny book - somehow also provocation...

The film isn't make that way. Well, maybe the provocation is similar to the book The end of the book is a fantastic joke on the life of the main character and the most important point is, and for me that's missing in the film, the recipient can understand the decision he makes when he jumps from the bridge...

But there are some good aspects in the film... For example the character who play the role of Fabian has on of the brightest smiles I ever have seen in an film - and he is playing his part well. What I liked about the adaption were the authentic scenes from the book - just as in the house of the lawyer in the beginning and the following situation with Fabian and his wife. That was a good start, but the way wasn't gone consequently. And that's what the book had done.

All in all: 5 points!

Faithful, may be too faithful, uninspired and spineless adaptation of Kãstner's novel. The cast was probably instructed to speak their lines as if they were reading the novel aloud: all the characters remain wooden puppets.

Neither 1931-Berlin nor a 1930's atmosphere comes across. Good sets and clothing alone is not enough.

The composer should have gone the same way as Fabian.