Verliebt in Valerie

Not a rom-com. More like a warm blanket for those who feel alone and rejected.

Maybe it is simply because it is set in Germany that the environment and the characters look more credible and sympathetic than how they would in a Hollywood version of such a story. But still, the acting and the rhythm outgrow the extremely predictable nature of the cliché and the embedded social messaging.

Dumbness and weirdness are glorified in fiction nowadays under new, more medical names. And the ForrestGump-ish composure of the protagonist follows the footsteps of many earlier movies like I Am Sam, Nell, etc.

My favorite cinematic take on such issues is the discussion between Ben Stiller and Robert Downey Jr in Tropical Thunder, hence I am more down with the backbone of the story than with the virtue signaling over inclusion of the mentally challenged and other trending values. I am not too sure that the medical condition of the protagonist would be compatible with all the things he did in the film. But it's fiction anyways.

The female lead is a next door girl type of natural beauty acted out perfectly. I will be looking for productions involving Mina Tander in the future. Overall, the acting is impressive. And the visual aspect of the movie exceeds TV standards.

The ending looks rushed, if not insufficient.

Not a gem but a fine example to straightforward, low-budget filmmaking.