Deed Poll

DEED POLL's been a rumour for years, and in 2003 dozens of people finally said that this movie was all a big lie. I pitied that since I always thought that the plot sounded great. (I like sick movies.) Then, two years later, I got word that Mr Schneider got it done, so I ordered a copy through his production company a couple of weeks ago.

Even though you see that it's a low-budget film, DEED POLL has it's magic. Mr Schneider's performance is really strong, the sex scenes are well done: good choreography, great photography, stunning film editing. The best thing about it, still, is the script. The lines are just remarkable! And, after all, this is a movie about sadomasochism and love, about the need to submit and/or dominate and about the will to sacrifice yourself. A pity that it is so short.

Now, it's almost a little secret that this film actually does exist, but DEED POLL will gain more and more fans over the years until it will be a cult classic like all the other "great sick" films: MARNIE, DEATH AND THE MAIDEN, EYES WIDE SHUT, SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, THE PILLOW BOOK, THE ADDICTION, THE WISDOM OF CROCODILES and so on.

First of all, "Deed Poll" was a cult movie years before it was made. The expectations were high, with or without a certain movie star from Canterbury. Finally it got made, and it became quite good. You may not be able to decide whether it's a horror film, a droll sex comedy, a psychological drama, or a thriller, but the movie will certainly not leave you untouched. IJ.Biermann directed his actors fabulously, the cinematographer did a great job with the sex scenes, and Barbara Kowa and André Schneider are lovely to look at. The best thing about "Deed Poll", though, is the editing by Christine Denck. She turned a sequence of ten minutes into a nightmare with cuts that make "Natural Born Killers" look like a slow-moving family film. Can't wait for the sequel!

"Deed Poll" is a strange phenomenon: It was a "cult" film (with hundreds of "fans" worldwide) years before it was even made. The internet rumours about this Lord of the Rings actor and Mr. Schneider's involvement with these rumours drew so much attention to a movie that started out as a "ghost movie" and became a controversial little masterpiece when it finally got made. Mr. Schneider is maybe one of the most hated people in the (internet) world for some people, but after this film, even his worst enemy can't deny his writing and acting abilities: In the bathroom scene, you can literally see to the bottom of his soul. There were some massive boycotts of "Deed Poll" before and after its release; some people started posting lies about Mr. Schneider over and over again - which drew only more attention to the film which has been shown in many European cities meanwhile. I watched it at the 19th London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival and must say that, despite of the bad things that happened in 2000/2001, "Deed Poll" is a tricky sex thriller with moments of sheer brilliance.

You either love or hate this movie. I loved it.

"Deed Poll" is one of my favourite films of the past few years. A quiet tip of a movie, with some touching performances (André Schneider as Nathaniel, Gianni Meurer as his brother, and Martina Schaak in her portrayal of a lawyer with a chequered past are very convincing) and a great script with fabulous lines (Ivy: "I don't smoke!" - Nathaniel: "Because you consider it a weakness?" - Ivy: "Maybe." - Nathaniel: "Am I allowed to be weak, then?").

Ivy Poll (played hysterically by Barbara Kowa) has an incestuous relationship with her brother, Sean (sex on legs: Rainer Maria Wittenauer). After her rich father finds out about the sexual relationship of his children, Ivy kills him. That's where the movie starts.

The Poll siblings inherit a great mansion, a yacht, and A LOT of money. They are aimless, purposeless; they only seem to live for drugs (ecstasy, dope, cocaine, speed), card games and bizarre sex fantasies. Ivy hires a call-boy, Nathaniel (André Schneider in his best performance so far), in order to break more and more rules. The hustler has a mysterious understanding for his client - he can literally read her mind. To fulfil her kinky sex dreams, he even brings his handicapped brother, Thor (stunning: Gianni Meurer), for a foursome.

Throughout the movie, Ivy expresses repeatedly her wish to have a "hand-made set of cards: smooth, good-smelling, thick, sensual and sexual". While on drugs, Nathaniel makes a strange offer: He wants the Polls to skin him in order to make cards out of his skin.

With the words, "That's the hottest thing I've ever experienced!", Ivy takes a scalpel and cuts 32 cards out of Nathaniel...

Although I prefer Biermann's shorter films, like "Coda" or "Zwischen Flieder wandern und singen", I must say that "Deed Poll" is a high art product. A thoughtful, atmospheric picture with sexy moments, some good camera angles, and an ending that certainly leaves no-one untouched.

Thriller fans will rejoice!

Andre Schneider rather stands out in an ensemble

cast who takes themselves and the matter

they're talking about way too serious.

What could've been a rather niece piece of trash or even a cute little "Basic Instinct"- homage comes down extremely heavy and after a splendid interrogation scene it quickly runs a little bit out of focus and wants to be so much more... Even the sex-scenes are not that bad, but the actors are in desperate need to lighten up and when Ivy Poll mumbles "I'm just getting moist again"

one wonders if she had ever been in the first place...