Summer '04

Somber.....Leaves You Wondering...
The recent films from Germany that I've seen, have been for the most part truly amazing. Something that's been missing since the heyday of the German newwave of the 70's and early 80's. This unassuming entry from 2006 "Sommer '04" ("Summer '04) and directed by Stefan Krohmer was no exception. Our film is about a nice married couple 'Miriam' (Martina Gedeck - "Das Leben der Anderen" 2006, "Der Baader Meinhof Komplex" 2008) and 'Andre' (Peter Davor), who are on summer holiday with their son 'Nils' and his 12 year old girlfriend 'Livia' (Svea Lohde). Their plans were to basically just enjoy sailing along the fjords of the Schlei (between the North and the Baltic sea). When one day a stranger appears - 'Bill' (Canadian-born Robert Seeliger), who develops a close bond with precocious yet sensitive - 'Livia'. But don't worry this is not a 'Lolita' tale, it is so much more. For one thing the acting by the entire cast, but especially the gifted Martina Gedeck and the young Svea Lohde were...

Moody character study
The stranger in this German flick is an American actor who speaks decent German. He woos a 13-year-old girl, then woos her boyfriend's mother in a love triangle that goes awry. Beautifully shot in the German countryside, this film is a lean examination of motives and intents and what happens when expectations are not met. Way better than the average Hollywood adult melodrama.

ok movie
The story line was not great and the characters were not that believable,
I am not sure if the writers know how to write a good plot

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