Afire (2023)

-Undine (Christian Petzold, 2020) -Afire (Christian Petzold, 2023)

Best Actor 2023

Winner

Josh O'Connor - La Chimera

Nominees

Michael Fassbender - The Killer Thomas Schubert - Afire Andrew Scott - All of Us Strangers Alexander Skarsgård - Infinity Pool Teo Yoo - Past Lives

Afire (Christian Petzold, 2023)

ROTER HIMMEL (Christian Petzold, 2023)

Roter Himmel / Afire Christian Petzold. 2023

Promenade Tannenstraße 6, 18225 Kühlungsborn, Germany See in map

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Afire

directed by Christian Petzold, 2023

Afire (2023), directed by Christian Petzold

Cinematographer: Hans Fromm

Film after film: Roter Himmel (dir. Christian Petzold, 2023)

It's the most minor of Petzold's films, watchable, at times smart, at other times pandering in ways that I didn't expect of this filmmaker. I am slowly discovering him now, having watched Yella years ago and remembering loving it (though I don't recall anything specific about it). While I hugely enjoyed Barbara and Pheonix (all three star great Nina Hoss), Roter Himmel seemed like an effort to do something lighter, more contemporary, more pop, which, while there's nothing wrong with that, doesn't glue here into a potent story. There are moments, the narrative arch of Uibel's and Trebs' characters hooking up is tender, and Beer and Brandt deliver thoughtfully-acted, delicately-emoting characters. The issue lies with the protagonist, how he's written as an obnoxious, tortured, and extremely egocentric writer, who just cannot relax and struggles with the upcoming failure of his soon-to-be-published novel almost until the very end, despite people around him being sick and dying. The ending, in which he learns a lesson and writes his new novel about what happened throughout the film, and receives the blessing from his publisher, resounds particularly cynical, empty, or maybe simply bitter. It simply seems that the stakes of everyone and everything else are more important than his, and yet he is the protagonist. I hope to see Schubert in a role that will give him more nuance to play.

Afire (2023)

Afire (Christian Petzold, 2023)

Seen in 2023:

Afire (Christian Petzold), 2023

King of Stonks

King of Stonks    [trailer]

Series inspired by real events in the financial world, centers on narcissism, megalomania and double standards.

While it's not essential, it's probably helpful if one is familiar with the broad outlines of the story this is based on, the spectacular Wirecard fraud. Sure, events are (slightly) exaggerated. But at the core a lot of things happened as they are shown here. The outside egos, the porn websites roots, Austrian secret service connections, fake Asian payment processor, financial market watchdogs protecting the criminals. To know that heightens the fun and is a reminder that despite seeming totally outlandish, it is indeed based on real events.

The two leads are ideally cast. My main complaint, as it's often the case, the mini-series has two episodes two many. The momentum gets lost, and there's one repetitive story circle too many. Though the ending is okay.

And as a reminder, while looking back everyone wonders how something this insane could've had happened. These frauds happen on a regular basis, the latest variation happened in the form of FTX. Multiple TV series, documentaries and movies are probably already in the making.

Afire [Roter Himmel] (2023)

Leon truly is the perfect asshole. Character studies of "bad" people can be interesting and rewarding, knotty in their morality. Christian Petzold's steaming dump of a film is a hollow and insulting version of that. Already griping from scene one when the car fails and doesn't convey him and his friend Felix fully to their retreat on Germany's Baltic Coast, things can only get worse when the pair realize that Felix' family summer home is doubly occupied. Stranger to them Nadja is mostly heard in initial scenes, loudly fucking someone someone through the night, much to Leon's chagrin. But maybe he should suffer. The writer is a recluse and elitist, turning down all social engagements because his "work doesn't allow it." But what does his work entail? Writing his latest opus, a novel entitled Club Sandwich which he guards jealously and won't allow anyone to read. Previously burned by Felix’ mother’s opinion on it, who he disregards because she is a cleaning lady, he similarly scorn’s Nadja’s negative e response when he eventually allows her to read it, claiming someone who works at an ice cream stand couldn’t “get” his work. But here’s the thing: German has some beautifully specific terms. Schadenfreude being one. When Leon’s publisher comes to discuss the manuscript and stays for dinner, it is revealed that Nadja is a literary scholar PhD candidate working a summer job. Helmut the editor respected her views even before he knew that, and praised Felix’ amateur photography. Both of these people have talent, and Helmut views them as worthy of empowerment. But for Leon, status is all that matters. Helmut has cancer but still works to better the lives others. Meanwhile Leon requires the literal death of his friend and Felix’ lover to be able to write something worth reading. It’s exploitive and sociopathic, suggesting no growth or change from within. Some stories are best left alone forever.

THE RULES

SIP

Someone says 'fire' or 'work'.

Leon is a wet blanket about something.

Leon rolls a cigarette.

BIG DRINK

A plane is heard passing overhead.

Leon's book title is mentioned.

Someone mentions being a rescue swimmer.

Roter Himmel (2023)

Roter Himmel (2023) #ChristianPetzold #ThomasSchubert #PaulaBeer #LangstonUibel #EnnoTrebs #MatthiasBrandt Mehr auf:

Jahr: 2023 (Februar) Genre: Comedy / Drama / Romantik Regie: Christian Petzold Hauptrollen: Thomas Schubert, Paula Beer, Langston Uibel, Enno Trebs, Matthias Brandt… Filmbeschreibung: Leon (Thomas Schubert) und Felix (Langston Uibel) sind schon lang befreundet und planen einen sommerlichen Urlaubstrip an der Ostsee. Nachdem sie in dem abgelegenen idyllischen Ferienhaus auf die fremde Nadja…

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