2 reviews
When one thinks of films made by Hans W. Geißendörfer the film that strikes probably is the atmospeheric Horror Cult Classic Jonathan (1970), which was Robby Müller's first feature as Cinematographer. Not many know that he has made films in different genres and also was part of the production for Apichatpong Weerasethakul's Cemetery of Splendor (2015). On the special occasion of Birthday of Master Hans W. Geissendörfer 81st today, i revisited few classics including this film, i must say, to this day, it remains Hans's most underrated film. This German-Austrian film is based on the play of the same name by Henrik Ibsen. The homecoming scenes and the clash between the families is like a double portrait - with full of illusions, greed, self indulgence and persistence, but Hans also shows the other side. The sick desire to have a moment, that is the loneliness that a family brings by the digging the matters of the past. With the outcome of the flaws we witness the exploring of the past at any price. It is a very ambitious and effective, but it is quite understandable to me that it is a bit frustrating for many who prefer Jonathan.
I saw this in '78 and was very impressed. If memory serves, it had a theme similar to The Iceman Cometh that provided a disturbing emotional impact many will find depressing. I mostly recall a mood of bleak, sad, natural beauty. The cinematography is by Robby Muller now associated with Wenders and Jarmush.