Kismet

Westeners think they are rational and good people. Immigrants learn quite soon what are the weak points in our culture and in us. We think we are coherent and clever but someone looking from outside easily solves the knot of coherence and cleverness. Andres Thiel's fine film gives us one night, one immigrant of second generation and three "clever" German people. And heat. Jan and Christine are naive, even stupid students who play the compulsory play of dating, separating and committing (whatever). Once again separated Jan bumps to a Turkish guy Tony who keeps Jan running after his whistle. He asks Jan for five minutes to tell him his story. This five minutes grows to a school of Western Morality and Hypocrisy. Jan presents every single belief we cherish but in context that shows them ridiculous. Both Jan and Christine are like kids whose reason is gravely underdeveloped. They "want" everything, they "desire" all, they "can't" something but they have no idea what life is all about. Tony, on the contrary, knows well: he has his agenda, no sentimentalism, nothing free. Westeners are make-believe people with book-learned ideas. But in real situation every one of us is like vermin, too: in case one has power over any other person, we use it even if it be an ax. The film is very wise, very embarrassing if one has any shame left, and has in Tony's role the most charming home-Turk of Hamburg, Faith Akin.

Came across Black Souls when I was looking down Jule Ronstedts filmography, a brilliant yet little known actress, doing theatre mostly plus some rare TV movies. She's the main characters girl-friend Christine.

After having read the destructive review above, the film came as quite a surprise. I understand why one would feel the story does not make much sense at some points. It comes as both comedy and somber drama, in which the characters make some surprising moves. But the way it's done, I think that it is part of its beauty. The characters are believable thus memorable. To me Axel Milberg's and Jule Ronstedt's acting is outstanding.

Don't expect a masterpiece like 'night on earth'. It's lighter. Take it as an offbeat entertaining piece and you'll like it. More films like this should be made.