Everyone Else (Alle Anderen) reviews
Review by on 25 Sep 2009
A fairly predictable going nowhere film
A fairly predictable going nowhere film
Review by on 25 Sep 2009
German, Maren Ade’s second feature EVERYONE ELSE (2009) is a most sharp account of a couple’s acknowledgement of the multi-faceted implications of romantic commitment.
Whilst on holiday in Sardinia, Gitti and Chris face, at their surprise, the reality of each other’s differences. In some respects reminiscent of Ingmar Bergman’s SCENES FROM A MARRIAGE and the Danish film project 'Dogme 95', this story of defeat and (maybe) redemption takes these two apparently fulfilled young professionals into a previously unexplored journey of self-discovery. Technically, the film consists of mid and close-up shots which devoutly accompany the emotional evolution of the two main characters. Paired with the actors’ excellent performances, such formal choice effectively achieves an intense engagement with both parties' inner struggles in making sense of themselves. The finely crafted balance between humorous and dramatic moments guarantees the work its touch of neutral yet committed observation. Void of any rhetoric and banality, Ade throws into an apparently light-hearted story issues of masculinity, fears of inadequacy and failure in contemporary society – yet maintaining a universal resonance. Chris and Getti’s relationship is ‘tried out' – both from the characters and the film-director – through seemingly little or small talks, from which there emerge deep rooted concerns with the intimidating ideas of commitment, risk and society’s constrictions. Recounting the average experience of average people, EVERYONE ELSE is far from being an average work; instead, in its deceiving simplicity, it offers a truly engaging and insightful scrutiny, as well as a touching experience, of human complexities.
LORETA GANDOLFI
German, Maren Ade’s second feature EVERYONE ELSE (2009) is a most sharp account of a couple’s acknowledgement of the multi-faceted implications of romantic commitment.Whilst on holiday in Sardinia, Gitti and Chris face, at their surprise, the reality of each other’s differences. In some respects reminiscent of Ingmar Bergman’s SCENES FROM A MARRIAGE and the Danish film project 'Dogme 95', this story of defeat and (maybe) redemption takes these two apparently fulfilled young professionals into a previously unexplored journey of self-discovery. Technically, the film consists of mid and close-up shots which devoutly accompany the emotional evolution of the two main characters. Paired with the actors’ excellent performances, such formal choice effectively achieves an intense engagement with both parties' inner struggles in making sense of themselves. The finely crafted balance between humorous and dramatic moments guarantees the work its touch of neutral yet committed observation. Void of any rhetoric and banality, Ade throws into an apparently light-hearted story issues of masculinity, fears of inadequacy and failure in contemporary society – yet maintaining a universal resonance. Chris and Getti’s relationship is ‘tried out' – both from the characters and the film-director – through seemingly little or small talks, from which there emerge deep rooted concerns with the intimidating ideas of commitment, risk and society’s constrictions. Recounting the average experience of average people, EVERYONE ELSE is far from being an average work; instead, in its deceiving simplicity, it offers a truly engaging and insightful scrutiny, as well as a touching experience, of human complexities.
LORETA GANDOLFI
Film details
Everyone Else (Alle Anderen)
GERMAN CINEMA TODAY
Director: Maren Ade
Actor: Birgit Minichmayr
Actor: Lars Eidinger
Actor: Hans-Jochen Wagner
Actor: Birgit Minichmayr
Actor: Lars Eidinger
Actor: Hans-Jochen Wagner
Germany, 2009.
119 mins. German and Italian with English subtitles.
Back to the film page
