Personal blog of Paddy Duke, designer, musician, and all round fun guy.
*Originally posted on Panic Dots.*
Each year in film, while the big blockbusters are storming through the collective consciousness with all the subtlety of a terminator in a Sarah Connor shop, there are a few unsung heroes that slip past unnoticed by most, and, like a celluloid equivalent of Kyle Reese, steal our hearts and leave a lasting impression.
Terrible analogies aside, many great films get overlooked because they haven’t got the Hollywood marketing clout of Michael Bay or James Cameron, or because they are not in English but are foreign with subtitles.
As any self respecting film snob will tell you, the indie and foreign offerings are often better than the mainstream hits, and over the next few months I’m going to extol the virtues of some of my favourite lesser-known and under-appreciated movies. First up is an absolute gem; the 2005 German film Die fetten Jahre sind vorbei, or The Edukators to you and me.
Set in Berlin, Hans Weingartner’s film follows The Edukators, three young anti-capitalist activists – waitress Jule (Julia Jentsch), her boyfriend Peter (Stipe Erceg), and his best friend Jan (Daniel Brühl) – who unwillingly (and almost unwittingly) kidnap a wealthy businessman, Mr Hardenberg (Burghart Klaußner), after they are caught breaking into his home.
In the midst of this not inconsiderable drama, Jan and Jule fall in love, and the revelation of their affair further unhinges the already edgy Peter. The romantic tension bubbles and simmers beneath the surface as the trio discuss the potential fate of their captive, although their options are somewhat limited – take him home to his family and take the rap, or kill him and go into hiding.
The three leads put in great performances and the photography is excellent. The hand held aesthetic feeds into the theme of the film well, and makes the subtly acted scenes feel all the more personal and honest. The predictably indie soundtrack is perhaps not particularly exciting but it fits well enough and is certainly easy to listen to.
If you are or have ever been an idealist, The Edukators will resonate with you. If you have ever done something foolish in a moment of rebellion, even more so. But most importantly, if you are a film lover, you should go watch this great film now.
