Reifezeugnis

Is it because the US version of this movie is so bad or why else seem most of the reviewers not to have understood it? Especially semiotechlab-658-95444 when he says that the story of the hunters-man is a fairy tale. In fact Sina uses him in her cover-up story because that man is sought by police through newspaper articles, but he has committed his crimes in a region 60 miles away from Sina's hometown. Also one has to take into account that this was in Germany in the late 70's. In that time almost every policeman, attorney or judge would see the guilt on the part of the woman or girl when she was raped, in fact in most cases it would not be considered rape. You also have to keep in mind that although Kinski was only 16 when the movie was made she plays an 18 year old girl, so she wasn't a minor. So it's perfectly understandable that she does not confess with the hope that it will be treated as self-defense but instead tries to cover-up. Concerning the impact of the movie I can only say that without her role in it the name Nastassja Kinski would be totally unknown in Germany but so at least the older generations know her. Also in my opinion it is one of Petersen's best movies and was a big boost for his career.

The teenager Sina Wolf (Nastassja Kinski) is having a love affair with her teacher Fichte (Christian Quadflieg), who is fifteen years older than she. One day, her former boyfriend Michael witnesses Sina making love with Fichte in the woods by the lake and he blackmails her. Sina meets him in the woods and Michael tries to rape her; however she hits him on the head with a big stone and kills Michael. She calls the police and tells to the Inspector Finke (Klaus Schwarzkopf) and his assistant that a stranger wearing green jacket tried to rape her but Michael defended her and the stranger killed him. The smart detective does not buy the story but pretends that he believes in it.

However Michael told to his friend Ingrid "Inge" that Fichte and Sina are lovers and Inge tells the secret to her friend Katrin. Then she blackmails Fichte to get good grades; otherwise she is going to flunk the test and repeat the year. When Mrs. Fichte (Judy Winter), who is the mathematic teacher, finds Michael's notebooks on his chair, she reads his comments about her husband and Sina and she learns that she has been betrayed.

Inspector Finke takes Sina to Kiel to identify the corpse of the possible attacker and she confirms that he is the man that attacked Michael and her. However this is a trap of the inspector and his assistant to check if Sina is telling the truth. They stakeout her house and discover that Fichte is her lover. Now the teacher becomes the prime suspect of the police inspector.

"For Your Love Only" is an unknown little gem directed by Wolfgang Petersen for the German television. The story is realistic and very well acted, and second feature of Nastassja Kinski. The "lolita" Nastassja Kinski with fifteen (or seventeen) years old is very natural to undress and is perfect to explain why her teacher did not resist to her. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Somente por Seu Amor" ("For Your Love Only")

I was age 24 when I saw this episode on a Sunday-evening (March 27, 1977) on the German television, always aired on prime time. That's more than 35 years ago. Fortunately, I recently came across the DVD release and a Youtube upload (full-length) of this episode. As I regularly saw the Tatort/Crime Scene episodes, and although living in a neighboring country, I immediately noticed this was a special and terrific one (and still is). The sum of a great story, acting performances, movie directing, locations, atmosphere and film music. This episode was made in summer 1976, so actor Klaus Kinkski's ravishing, gorgeous daughter Nastassja was age 15. She had a smashing debut with this episode and appeared in many movies since then. In this Tatort episode Nastassja is a 17 years old student having a love affair with her married high school teacher age 32. In her next film, 'Così Come Sei' from 1978, the then 17 years old Nastassja has a love affair with a married middle-aged man (the famous Italian actor Marcello Mastroianni.) by the way. Despite some brief moments with innocent nudity, I think an uncut release in the U.S. will still be a problem (the VHS release was censored as far as I know). Today the film locations of 'Reifezeugnis' are a kind of pilgrimage, as the episode has a 'cult' status.

Because of her acting performance and -irresistible- looks, Nastassja Kinski had a lot of media attention (as well as the subject), but I like to mention actress Judy Winter also. She stood in the the shadow of Nastassja, understandable, but she has a lot of screen time too (more than I remember from 1977) and performed her role as a high school teacher and woman of an adulterous husband very well. Perhaps too well, as she understands his adultery; the only weakness in the script in my opinion. In contrast to many other Tatort/Crime Scene episodes, this time the cops are less prominent. I prefer that. Comparing this episode with the many other Tatort episodes (more than 700) I have seen, I still think this is one of the best, actually the best!

Since January 7, 2010, 'Reifezeugnis' aka 'For Your Love Only' is available on DVD (German release), uncut. Unfortunately, despite being Tatort's most popular episode and international theatrical release, only German subtitles are added. Maybe in the near future we may look forward to a Blu-ray release with subtitles in English language also. And interviews with the director Wolfgang Petersen ('Das Boot', etc.) and Nastassja Kinski as extra features...

Typically fussy German crime story is focused on the psychological drama, but thoroughly outstays its welcome; however, this episode created quite a national sensation for bringing a touch of Schulmädchenreport to German homes and especially for introducing the young Nastassja Kinski, who is admittedly perfectly cast here.

I would like to disagree with Carl S. Lau, writer of the first review, to the point that 'Reifezeugnis' was merely a filler movie for Kinski. Her first two movies, 'Falsche Bewegung' and 'Die Braut des Satans', were widely unknown in Germany, and she had merely supporting roles in them. 'Reifezeugnis' was part of the 'Tatort' series, probably the most popular prime time show on German TV then and now (currently acquiring cult status). It was her first leading role and her first exposure to large parts of her country's audience. Everybody was anxious to see whether the daughter of Klaus Kinski, famous from the popular German productions of Edgar Wallace thrillers in the 1960s, was any good or just another actor's daughter. And everybody was raving about her! Therefore I feel 'Reifezeugnis' was an important step in her career.