Rendezvous

It is not quite unusual that you leave a movie asking yourself: Why? Most times there is an explanation. Something like: The audience is probably going to love it; at least it was funny; or something like this. None of this is the case with this film that might (not even) pass as an overly ambitious project of a first-year-film student. The plot is a mediocre and quite obvious piece of theater. The actors act like they were on stage. Not to talk about the direction of photography (inexistent). We could hence easily neglect Rendezvous, unfortunately however, interesting films will not have had the chance to come to the theaters because pretentious crap like this takes the spot. And other "ambitious" film directors might get the impression that with a portable DV camera the good old Godard sentence that every camera movement is a question of moral, was not valid anymore.

i am grateful. this film is brilliant. it is exciting. it is funny. and it shows, that European film can be completely different. it starts slowly (nearly to slow), but the thrill is present, even if you don't know why. there is something misgiving. suddenly you understand. everybody betrays everybody. and from now on, you are one of the guests at a candle light dinner which is really not likable but nasty. the thing is: i loved it! i waited for the vicious insults of Walter (sven walser) like being under a drug. and the turning point of the story (the sauna scene) is such strange- beautiful! the end is a little bit like the beginning, very slow, very courageous. this film has almost a "fassbinder shape". astonishing story, brilliant actors, beautiful images. it is for me like the air that i breathe.

Absolutely Surprising! A luxury flat in Berlin and two couples – that's it. Sorry, I forgot: The film Rendezvous is obviously based on a Theater play. All this are more than enough reasons to flew the cinema. But what a mistake that would be! This kind of movies usually have a problem: They mistake boredom for art, but not boring – thrilling till the end is this film. Sven Walser delivers a great performance as the ugly Walter. This low budget motion picture is never dull or unbelievable. In one word this movie shows – there is a way beside the big money: A good Story, excellent actors and a plucky director. We need more like this in the German film-scene.

Rendezvous is about Communication - or rather the lack of it. This subject is for example excellently symbolized by the parrot: This usually caged animal here is taken as (1) an embodiment of sense without understanding or will (and yet with the capacity for articulation). So it is not too far fetched, that the protagonists are trapped themselves. It resembles the inability to speak and to think for oneself. The parrot also reminds us, not to imitate others without criticism, and since it can't live on his own (2)symbolizes, on the other hand, the decision of one of the female protagonists to end this communication (-less)her way. But see for yourself. It is not an easy film, but neither is life. Excellently played, esp. Tim Lang., Sven Walser.

Obviously shot low budget this film still managed to captivate me.I think when judging the technical qualities one should take the budget into consideration. It is a modern " who is afraid of Virginia Woolf " , two couples, stuck in relationship hell, fight to the death on one fatal dinner-party. The film asks the big questions - what is loyalty, how to live ones life. The film tells in an interesting way how important it is to take responsibility for ones life and the futility of blaming the other person for your own problems. The director boils these questions to a dramatic climax that brings an unexpected twist. all in all a very rewarding movie experience. The actors are superb, they deliver the stylized tirade and the throwaway line with equal mastery. They cheat, rant, force and woo with abandonment. It's a pleasure to watch all of them, Lisa Martinek, Anika Mauer, Sven Walser and Tim Lang. Alexander Schueler is a fresh voice in German cinema.