15 reviews
Don't try to educate the audience
I stumbled on this by Netflix recommendations and was a little bored at this time, so I thought: Why not?
Overall this film is a light comedy with a solid background. At first I thought this may be part of 'framing', getting the German people to accept the flood of migrants they have experienced over the last years. But there's more to it. I got intrigued after about ten minutes and watched it till the (almost expected) end.
The filming and acting was good, it was good entertainment, but with a slightly belly grim on my side (as a German).
As a comedy this works well, but I found the educational under streams to be better citizens annoying. We Germans don't need that.
I gave a six, though.
A Problem Called Integration
After several waves of refugees from Syria, Germany founded some movies about the circumstances to show positive examples how life can turn. But in my opinion the issue is "too wanted", the movie teaches the audience. Not in a bad way. It's ok to watch it, why not. But it has a smell of artificiality. It was a well-intentioned. I don't know which audience I would recommend it. Maybe for foreigners who want to know some parts of Germany's problems of the refugee-wave in 2015. I think it does not center clear enough on the problems many of the refugees have and why they fled.
- Breumaster
- Feb 16, 2020
- Permalink
Quite acceptable for a German blockbuster, still has its "buts"..
A couple of wealthy Munich inhabitants, Richard and Angelika Hartmann, adopt an African refugee named Diallo for a couple of weeks until the officials decide if he can take permanent asylum in Germany...
Soon they have to check on their own views towards the refugees while Diallo learns that this family has quite some problems on their own, which includes also the Hartmanns adult children and their grandson.
The most successful German movies are usually light comedies, that's no difference here. What I liked about this movie that it covered a broad range of attitudes that Germans have towards the refugee crises, from far-left to far-right ones, things which people in Germany really think or say. There is also a subplot with an islamist among the refugees, or some Pegida-style "enraged citizen" protesters. Also, it covers quite a lot of other issues - estrangement between children and parents, growing old in a society where the job means a lot for the reputation of the individual and so on. It has no less than seven main characters and manages that well. I think it was also the right choice that they wrote the character of Diallo not as a hero character, but a rather normal guy who just fled his country because the one terrible act of violence that happened to his family. Acting-wise, Senta Berger and Heiner Lauterbach come from a different time than the younger actors in the movies and are in my opinion far above them. But, Florian David Fitz, does also a good job in the probably most unthankful role, playing the Hartmann son who is the clichéd manager who has no time for his son. Even Palina Rojinski, who is another ex-video jockey who turned to acting, does a little better than in her former efforts - and she has probably the most complex character, the daughter of the Hartmanns, who tries to escape an stalker, while struggling to finish her studies with 32 years and get a job, making her a kind of disgrace to her father.
Its not a perfect movie, though. The setting is not too unrealistic - its not far fetched that refugees are adopted by German families, it happened sometimes since 2015 and was even advocated by some organizations. But, obviously, in the end reality has to be bent to provide the happy-end. This is too be expected.
I had more qualms with that despite a lot of things were done well, the movie was not hugely funny. The dialogues rely too much on playing around with clichés and tropes, going for easy wins by the audience.
Without spoiling too much, what will this movie say about the refugees in Germany, a country which took 700 000 of them?
Ultimately, it offers a "light conservative" solution: traditional family values will fix things, society and the state set things right. This may be a bit simple, may be part of the happy end, but its what I believe the movie wants to say.
Soon they have to check on their own views towards the refugees while Diallo learns that this family has quite some problems on their own, which includes also the Hartmanns adult children and their grandson.
The most successful German movies are usually light comedies, that's no difference here. What I liked about this movie that it covered a broad range of attitudes that Germans have towards the refugee crises, from far-left to far-right ones, things which people in Germany really think or say. There is also a subplot with an islamist among the refugees, or some Pegida-style "enraged citizen" protesters. Also, it covers quite a lot of other issues - estrangement between children and parents, growing old in a society where the job means a lot for the reputation of the individual and so on. It has no less than seven main characters and manages that well. I think it was also the right choice that they wrote the character of Diallo not as a hero character, but a rather normal guy who just fled his country because the one terrible act of violence that happened to his family. Acting-wise, Senta Berger and Heiner Lauterbach come from a different time than the younger actors in the movies and are in my opinion far above them. But, Florian David Fitz, does also a good job in the probably most unthankful role, playing the Hartmann son who is the clichéd manager who has no time for his son. Even Palina Rojinski, who is another ex-video jockey who turned to acting, does a little better than in her former efforts - and she has probably the most complex character, the daughter of the Hartmanns, who tries to escape an stalker, while struggling to finish her studies with 32 years and get a job, making her a kind of disgrace to her father.
Its not a perfect movie, though. The setting is not too unrealistic - its not far fetched that refugees are adopted by German families, it happened sometimes since 2015 and was even advocated by some organizations. But, obviously, in the end reality has to be bent to provide the happy-end. This is too be expected.
I had more qualms with that despite a lot of things were done well, the movie was not hugely funny. The dialogues rely too much on playing around with clichés and tropes, going for easy wins by the audience.
Without spoiling too much, what will this movie say about the refugees in Germany, a country which took 700 000 of them?
Ultimately, it offers a "light conservative" solution: traditional family values will fix things, society and the state set things right. This may be a bit simple, may be part of the happy end, but its what I believe the movie wants to say.
Tries so hard to be relevant, but ultimately impossible to take this movie seriously
- Horst_In_Translation
- Nov 17, 2016
- Permalink
Entertaining take on current topics
There are several reasons to recommend this comedy. First of all, it is a very entertaining take on topics that are being discussed not only in Germany, but all over Europe: how will the influx of refugees from Africa and the Middle East change our society? In this movie, a rich Munich family wants to do more than wave "Refugees welcome"-placards, so they offer a home to one of the refugees. As a plot, this could be rather embarrassing due to political correctness (or lack thereof), but writer and director Simon Verhoeven manages to include all the different views on immigrants without losing track of the comedy for one moment. He has created a set of characters that are likable and well-rounded, and the development of the story, while predictable in the general outline (of course a comedy needs a happy ending), is surprising at every turn and full of funny dialogue which had people laughing out loud in the cinema. Another reason to watch this comedy is the cast. The older generation is being represented by the always wonderful Senta Berger, as well as Heiner Lauterbach, Uwe Ochsenknecht and Ulrike Kriener (yes, those last three together had us laughing in Doris Dörrie's "Männer" in the 1980s), the younger generation containing heartthrobs Florian David Fitz and Elyas M'Barek and a very lovable Palina Rojinski. Refugee Diallo is played by Eric Kabongo, who will hopefully get to play more leading roles in the future! And, thirdly, I very much liked the artful camera work and the well-chosen sets, which made the movie a joy to watch.
waste of time
Sloppy production with a couple of nice jokes (but those seems to happen more by accident). A poor attempt of story telling to a subject that could have been been quite interresting. It's obvious that the director was not capable to wrap his arms around the story which speak a lot for his lack of talent. Also most of the actors performed far below their normal level.
Overall a total waste of time.
Take a refuge to ... home day
All over the (western) world, there is one big issue that all have in common. It's a tragedy and it's tough for most people to wrap their head around some of the facts. We don't know what people really go through. Now some will take advantage of the system. But it's wrong to paint them all the same way.
This movie takes certain clichés and makes fun of them. Most of the jokes are not laugh out loud funny though. It tries to be sophisticated about certain things and it does succeed most of the time. It's really a testament to script writing and to the fact that there is good writing in Germany, which leads to good movies. Some things are predictable of course, but it's still suspenseful until the end - and funny of course
This movie takes certain clichés and makes fun of them. Most of the jokes are not laugh out loud funny though. It tries to be sophisticated about certain things and it does succeed most of the time. It's really a testament to script writing and to the fact that there is good writing in Germany, which leads to good movies. Some things are predictable of course, but it's still suspenseful until the end - and funny of course
Skip at all costs.
This movie is an insult to germany, to refugees, and to thinking breathing people everywhere. The characters are poorly written and one dimensional, the plot is abhorent, and the "message" they are trying to get across is absolutely lost in the 10000s of ways they go against it throughout the film
The only reason this isnt a 0/10 is one good joke and the entirty of the Doctor/Boyfriend character.
The only reason this isnt a 0/10 is one good joke and the entirty of the Doctor/Boyfriend character.
- QueenMaddyBlake813
- May 25, 2020
- Permalink
Typical German fail
A couple of nice gags at the first 15 minutes, followed by the typical German way of making movies: when creating the story the writer must have been Captain Obvious. Please avoid this one and don't waste your time unless you have a real simple mind.
- olaf-66694
- Feb 15, 2020
- Permalink
A convincingly German comedy at an international cinema level!
Great movie! The characters are funny, like a comedy should be at its best. The best German actors, straight-to-the-point dialogues, beautiful pictures. Hei, a German comedy at this international cinema level, you do not find that often! I've put Hartmann's heart in my heart, with all their spleens and weaknesses, who still hold together when it matters. What else do you want? That the comedy uses a serious refugee fate as a background for the family development, is wonderful. This is the way life is, everyone lives as best he can, and, at best, tries to help others. Simon Verhoeven wrote the script BEFORE the great wave of refugees came to Germany. He has taken a current situation as a hanger for typical family entertainment. And this has turned into a wonderful film that has thrilled over 3 million viewers.
Terrible
I was highly offended by this awful movie.
It borders on racism throughout and it was difficult to watch such poor acting.
This has been directed by a privelaged person with no clue of the problems of refugees. The biggest problem for me is the movies category. It is listed as a comedy but is NOT funny. So without humour it attempts to address some important points but fails miserably.
Complete waste of time. I noted some of the higher marked reviewers are linked with the movie. How sad !!
It borders on racism throughout and it was difficult to watch such poor acting.
This has been directed by a privelaged person with no clue of the problems of refugees. The biggest problem for me is the movies category. It is listed as a comedy but is NOT funny. So without humour it attempts to address some important points but fails miserably.
Complete waste of time. I noted some of the higher marked reviewers are linked with the movie. How sad !!
Excellent Munich-style comedy on the refugee situation in Germany
I have to admit that I first had reservations regarding this movie. Since the refugee situation in Germany is omnipresent in the media and the public discussion very polarized, one could already even call it intoxicated, I couldn't imagine how a subject like this could be turned into a comedy.
But Simon did an excellent job: he hired a bunch of very well known German actors, most of them actually from Munich, and portrayed the wealthy German society as a whole with the Hartmann family and movie's characters impersonating all the different political opinions and individual personalities. Controversional dinner discussions, resentments in all directions, accidents of all kind are leading to the most hilarious situations
Politically Simon achieved to place the movie leisurely at the opinional center of the Germany society – a center that unfortunetely gets more and more eroded by the centrifugal forces of a polarized dicussion.
Extremely recommended because it's an extremely good comedy!
But Simon did an excellent job: he hired a bunch of very well known German actors, most of them actually from Munich, and portrayed the wealthy German society as a whole with the Hartmann family and movie's characters impersonating all the different political opinions and individual personalities. Controversional dinner discussions, resentments in all directions, accidents of all kind are leading to the most hilarious situations
Politically Simon achieved to place the movie leisurely at the opinional center of the Germany society – a center that unfortunetely gets more and more eroded by the centrifugal forces of a polarized dicussion.
Extremely recommended because it's an extremely good comedy!
A brilliant comedy that takes you on a rollercoaster
This film tells the story of an affluent German family, where each member has issues of their own. The arrival of a refugee turns their world upside down.
I really like this comedy because it is clever, fast paced and really funny. It also takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions, such as sadness, jealousy and insecurity. It is also very unusual in the sense that it is politically incorrect many times, and even dares to vocalise the societal anxiety towards current political and societal issues regarding the refugees. I think it is a brilliant film.
I really like this comedy because it is clever, fast paced and really funny. It also takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions, such as sadness, jealousy and insecurity. It is also very unusual in the sense that it is politically incorrect many times, and even dares to vocalise the societal anxiety towards current political and societal issues regarding the refugees. I think it is a brilliant film.
A highlight in German film culture!
- claudiaketzer
- Nov 14, 2016
- Permalink
Entertaining with serious basics and my wife has a bit part
- NewInMunich
- Dec 2, 2016
- Permalink