Young Werther

A friend invited me to a "hate watch" of a new adaptation of The Sorrows of Young Werther that he made sound like the most off-putting version of Goethe's timeless story. I researched it and agreed. But this film wasn't Goethe. Not at all. What this film is doing is in a way only gesturing at the Werther lore (the headlong rush of desire, the absurdity and beauty of falling for someone you can't have) and building something entirely its own. It's somewhat funny, but not in a forced romantic comedy way. It's a kind of humor that comes from people being awkward and vulnerable around one another, the little smiles and glances that happen when you're just slightly too aware of the other person. The scene where Werther and Charlotte are reading together on a blanket, barely saying anything, might be the single most romantic moment I've seen in a movie this year. It's so simple but so charged.

The cast are not A-list stars, but they perform to that level. Douglas Booth does something difficult and incredible, he plays Werther as both ridiculous and completely sincere, which is exactly what first love feels like. You laugh at him in one breath, ache for him in the next. Alison Pill is luminous, playing Charlotte with such layered intelligence. And Patrick J. Adams is brilliant as Albert, kind, steady, and present in a way that makes the triangle sharper and sadder because you can't just dismiss him. And visually, the film is just stunning. I approached ready to "hate watch" every second, but when it was over I had the tremble you only get when a movie absolutely surprises you into loving it.

"Call me sometime, will you?"

Werther (Douglas Booth) is an aspiring Montreal writer. He and his young friend Paul are in Toronto for one day to pick up a well-known horse sculpture in a family dispute. He is immediately taken with Charlotte (Alison Pill) who is having coffee with her friend Melanie (Amrit Kaur) and her young sister Sissy (Iris Apatow). It's her birthday and he goes to her party. He's told afterwards that she's engaged to really nice Albert (Patrick J. Adams). He's still going to try to steal her from Albert.

This depends a lot on one's opinion on Werther. Douglas Booth is playing him like the gay best friend archetype. I can see why. He can't be too threatening. It occurs to me later that he needs to be younger like in his twenties. He is immature in nature. He's already the younger man with Charlotte. He just needs to go even younger. I find him charming although he does border on stalking. I love all the actors. I like this attempt even if it's not all quite right.

I never imagined this would be possible but someone did it. The classic Johann Wolfgang von Goethe novel "The Sorrows of Young Werther" was turned into a contemporary romantic comedy. The heartbreaking story about unrequited love of a young heir with a married woman in the 18th century became a charming, fun and light-hearted film that makes you forget just a little about the doomed affair written by the German author, but there's also plenty of time for some drama and some pain. A classic from univeral literature that has yet to be adapted by Hollywood, and the closest we'll ever get is with this Canadian production. A quite good one, gladly, but the hardcore fans of the novel will dislike it completely.

Douglas Booth plays the aspiring writer Werther, who travels a long distance to take possession of the family estate after the passing of a relative. He travels with a hypochondriac/germophobic friend (Jaouhar Ben Ayed) and life seems fun and colorful until he meets a beautiful woman named Charlotte (Allison Pill). Instant admiration is formed when not only is she beautiful and fun to be with, but they share an instant connection revolving on art and literature references. Magic in the air for him but it's revealed that she's about to marry Albert (Patrick J. Adams), a very important lawyer and there begins the helplessness of it all. The friendship remains - even Albert becomes a good friend too - but it's obvious that Werther will find ways to turn things on his favor, he's deeply in love with the woman and he needs her badly.

Apart from the different setting, different technologies and different social conventions, the 21st Werther manages to take things a little lightly and the constant notion fought between him and Albert about dying for love and other philosophical questions are practically inexistent here. The story presents a great deal of fun and humored moments between the doomed couple, with an everlasting sense of a joyful friendship that slowly becomes a series of confusion and messy ordeals - blame it on the poor dude trying his best efforts and making a mess out of everything - until it hits a slightly serious tone. It's a more hopeful than the actual original material (obviously) but it's such a cute, romantic and funny film that makes us see life in a different manner, or even believe in the idea of ancient romantic love in a digitalized era.

On the other hand, a majority of the man's inner intense feelings as expressed through his diary/letters in the novel, is absent and missed. Instead, we have conversations with the friend that are vaguely interesting; the few moments with Charlotte's perspective were good to watch. But again, this is a free adaptation, don't expect to see a full Goethe in here except for its basis and some of the key moments from the story. This one feels like a cousin of "(500) Days of Summer".

It's easy to have a great time with the movie as the performances are funny, romantic and captivating, especially the couple. Allison was a real enchanting Charlotte and with the adorable, fun-spirited Werther of Booth they formed a delightful couple, one of those that you really wish to be together but you also know that they're always will be best friends and nothing more. It makes you look at relationships in a thoughtful and relevant manner but also leaves audiences very entertained. To the devoted readers of "The Sorrows..." (like me), try to enjoy the journey a little. 8/10.