........or is that Shakespeare?
Here's my "Brief-Take" on this 2010 production from Germany:
-- Hiding under this movie's fairly tumultuous family tale is: "A not-much-screen-time, guy / guy love story." Strangely, it's a work quite similar to a 2002 Spanish / German production, "Food of Love." Both films involve a young concert pianist-in-training (Sasha / Paul) and his older, male concert piano performer / teacher. While there are "falling in love" similarities in these two movies, here are some DIFFERENCES---The older film's near-neurotic and more self-serving, clingy mother vs. this film's selflessly supportive....but sometimes pushy one. 2002's out of the picture father vs. Sasha's boorish, know it all example of what fatherhood should NOT be (despite an end of film attempt to transform this s---head of a man in our eyes). Oh, and thrown into the film mix for "Sasha" is a sometimes funny uncle and a sometimes supportive / sometimes jealously competitive younger brother. In other words, we're given a whole family of characters this viewer considers as receiving way too much screen time.....while being shown less of the title character trying to find his way in love and in life (Hey, this is a film titled "Sasha".....is it not?). To end this two film comparison, while "Food of Love" is a film shot in a much more technically accomplished manner, with characters occupying the opposite social class from those inhabiting our 2010 production, what it lacks, BIGTIME, is an actor with presence in the lead role.....one we can actually see Grow his character (Sasha's portrayer acts circles around his counterpart in the older film).
-- Despite any other negatives associated with the current production, know this: The actor (Sascha Kekez) portraying "Sasha" quickly and easily makes his way into our hearts......and we readily accept him. Unlike other aspects of the film, this young man easily deserves an 8-Star rating of his own (I predict a bright future).
-- Love scene-wise, we are given Hot--Hot kissing shots. Yet.....bed scene-wise, you'll see only above-the-briefs nudity and more of the Hot kissing (Lack of full body nudity seems strange, coming from these sexually open countries).
-- Color and lighting cinematography are sometimes a problem.....with overbright shots and a few near-monotone color scenes intruding on what is otherwise a fairly well camera-managed production.
-- Lastly.....and most importantly, your reviewer has this question to ask after watching the closing scene: What "Just out of the closet Newbie.....Canoeing on the local river and spotting a certain someone's 'interesting' Ex-partner (who, himself, keeps ogling).....Is going to very soon be revisiting the area's indoor swimming pool?" Readers, see this scene for yourself (there are enough of them involving just Sasha's activities to make this worth a rental).
-- Happy Trolling, Sasha!!
PS--Have fun, Viewers, with an initial scene set in a......Magazine Shop (that's right, you got it.....think 1996's "Beautiful Thing"). BUT....this shot's funnier!
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