Alle anderen
I recently read Jonathan Rosenbaum’s article on “Dancer in the Dark”. Whenever he writes about movies he admires I am typically OK, but when he has a distaste for something (“Inglorious Basterds” for example), I come to realize how spiteful it all sounds. While admitting that he was moved by “Dancer in the Dark”, he literally hated all of it, mostly complaining about how anti-American it is, re-iterating the “Lars von Trier has never been to the US” argument.
I have a feeling that I will be equally spiteful when it comes to “Alle anderen”. Gorp really liked it because the film is not overly dramatic or emo and, I suspect, because Gorp actually loves hateful people in his films. I certainly agree with the first part – the little details in the film are their best point. I didn’t think it was too slow or too boring or anything like that. My problem really lies with the second aspect, the hateful characters – they are self-indulgent and stupid, and do not appear to make any attempt to actually want to improve themselves and their relationship. Personally I have a distaste for films about relationships in which all I see is hatred. (For a similar reason, I dislike “Still Walking” and French films in the veins of “Un conte de Noel”.) My personal stance on relationships and family is that genuine affection is possible and does not necessarily have to come with the baggage of hidden contempt and hatred. The characters in “Alle anderen” may be realistic, but to me, they are not really interesting.
Another aspect I disliked about the film was the ending. I thought the subtle depiction of the main characters’ relationship was well done up until the point where he throws her into the pool, and instead of fighting it out like normal people and trying to talk to each other (incidentally something they strangely tried to do for the rest of the film), they have sex and fight half-heartedly the next morning. Really? Childish much?
I can see where the good reviews for “Alle anderen” is coming from. But for me, listening to their lamenting voices and seeing their silly fights over pseudo-meaningful things is just painful. I think it’s been awhile since I have seen an actually good film on relationships.