Coming Out

This movie is a wonderful story and an artifact both cultural and historical. It takes us across the Berlin Wall in the last year of the German Democratic Republic. In the background we hear avant garde electronic music, and when the characters go to the theatre, we see a modern fanciful production. It is a reminder of German modernism in the arts, something that one rarely sees on the screen.

The students in Phillip's (the protagonist's) high school class write their essays about a quote from Bertolt Brecht. This quote, about a common man in his own community, goes a long way to explaining the apparent lack of an ending. I confess that I found the ending a bit odd until I watched the movie a second time. The protagonist is not going to live a Hollywood 'happy ending'. He is going to live in the back streets that are gay East Berlin. He will not have the easy life he adopts at the beginning of the movie, and he is going to continue being a high school teacher. Phillip is not going to allow the East German state, his profession, his family or his girl friend to supress his own self. He is living on a tight wire, but he is an ordinary citizen of a socialist state.

The non-capitalist industrial society that serves as the backdrop for this coming of age story is no more. It is refreshing to see a movie without product placements and the crass commercialism. Coming Out is a flash back to a society where gays were repressed but lived out their lives in spite of society. If you think Bush's America is repressive, imagine living in a police state like East Germany with the Berlin wall. This fact gives Phillip's coming out such significance. His dilemma makes modern American gay life seem comparatively carefree. We take so much for granted.

The director is obviously accomplished. The budget is adequate so we are spared the technical problems of gay cinema on a shoe string. The acting and dialog are convincing . The German is exceptionally crisp and clear, allowing someone with a first year college course in German to catch subtleties that are not captioned. The cinematography is good and moves the plot forward.

This film was erotic without being pornographic. It was far more realistic than Maurice for example. It touched me in a way that coming out films rarely do. It reminded me of the first time I went to a gay bar in a small city, all quite self-conscious and anxious and awed. More importantly, it reminded me of what I wanted to find there.

Coming Out is bold in displaying the unjust treatment of the marginalized group of society--the homosexuals. It is character-driven thus it allows viewers to enter the life and emotions of Mattias, the high school teacher, as he struggles to change his true identity and to repress his sexual desires in order to conform to the norms of the GDR society.

Though it presents a heavy issue, the film's mood is light. There are many entertaining scenes like theatrical plays and bar scenes with gay men in their lavish costumes. The portrayal of the sex scenes are also excellent. They are portrayed in such a manner wherein we can say that it is not just pure lust;that emotions are involved. The dialog is moving and must be given enough attention specially between Mattias and his mother. The film is not only entertaining, it also made me understand and sympathize with the homosexuals.

Though I saw this movie only once, I still remember it and will probably for ever. None of the gay themed films I saw described better the problems and relations in our community. This East Germany film was very important for me, because, back in those times, I saw myself in the role of the main character. Being afraid of being myself and how to deal with it - that is the idea of the film. It wants to say to all of "us", and I would quote here one of my first boyfriends: "No matter what the world thinks about you, do what makes you happy." Really, that is what matters. You and the other one. This movie helped me a lot. And I am not afraid of being myself anymore.

At the very moment the Berlin Wall began to fall in 1989, Heiner Carow's film, "Coming Out," received its premiere.

The fact that this film, produced under the auspices of the state studio DEFA, had such a coincidental unveilng to a historical event, gave it added attention. It is an often interesting tale of a high school teacher coming to grips with his emotions, as he must decide between two loves.

Shot is actual East Berlin locales, the film gains in authenticity. It reportedly was well received in Germany, and enjoyed a respectable US run.

Ultimately this is a difficult movie to judge in relation to content, because it is the only movie from East Germany (and perhaps central Europe) dealing with coming out and homosexuality in a somewhat objective manner. East Germany was, for a communist country, rather liberal (homosexuality wasn't illegal, just ignored; women were an integral part of the work force and society...), yet still communist. I am a bit confused by one writer's comment regarding Bush's oppressive America...I think it rather resembles this movie. But I digress...

Overall, the movie is a success given its origin. No tragedies, but rather a man who struggles with his identity and ultimately accepts himself emotionally as a gay man. I guess it is a period piece as much as 'In and Out' may be considered a period piece. Maybe historical representation would be a better term, in particular with this movie, given the timing of its release. The ending is left rather open, leaving the viewer wondering where Philipp might next end up. Maybe there was supposed to be a sequel? We'll never know, I guess.

And yes, he does look good in a pair of jeans.