Rheingold: O Roubo do Sucesso

Once again we have fatih akin trying to depict immigrant life in germany from the lens of someone who "understands" the struggles and tribulations of worker class families.

It is his n-th attempt of doing so and it is neither getting more original nor any more accurate. What we have instead is a very distorted negative view of immigrants who appear to be weak minded and drawn to crime with the sole personality of being violent. It is outdated stereotypes on screen doing very little to show any relatable personality. After that you can understand that it is a drag to watch and not recommended.

Speak about your goals openly, but when it comes to action, be low-key yet proactive. In the movie, you can see the director capturing moments of Xatar practicing and finding his rhythm in rap. In reality, rap and hip-hop often involve freestyling with a sense of rhythm, and it's intriguing how, through intense self-reflection, it creates a form of chaotic yet relatable expression. I wasn't familiar with Xatar before, and I wasn't a fan of the earlier parts of the film, which focused on his involvement in underground gatherings and altercations. Personally, I tend to avoid such confrontations. However, if Xatar truly found self-discovery in prison, it reaffirms the saying that adversity reveals true character. Sometimes, the complexities of social interactions and the pressures of daily life can be quite vexing.

I didn't expect such good quality, especially because German productions have often left me uninterested in the past. However, Rheingold breaks that trend with a gripping story that mixes rap culture and gangster themes. While this may not be everyone's cup of tea, the film excels with its strong performances and intense moments that really keep you on the edge of your seat. There were multiple scenes that got me genuinely invested, and the pacing kept things engaging without feeling rushed. The music and visuals were well-crafted, adding a fresh vibe to the story. If you enjoy films with a gritty edge and well-told, character-driven narratives, this is definitely worth checking out. All in all, Rheingold proves that German cinema has more to offer than expected. I give it a solid 7/10 stars.

Rheingold, directed by Fatih Akin, is a solid, well-acted drama that stands out primarily because of its central character and its restrained direction, even if it never fully realizes its narrative potential.

Emilio Sakraya carries the film almost entirely on his own and does so with surprising confidence. As Xatar, he is convincing, commanding and emotionally accessible. He conveys both the hardness and vulnerability of the character without ever feeling forced. Particularly impressive is how much he communicates through body language and subtle glances. The supporting cast is consistently strong as well. Hüseyin Top deserves special mention as Samy, providing an important emotional anchor that adds grounding and stability to the film.

Fatih Akin opts for a matter-of-fact, almost detached narrative approach. As a result, Rheingold is deliberately unsentimental and avoids excessive dramatization. This lends the film a strong sense of authenticity, but it also means that many stages of the protagonist's life are touched on rather than explored in depth. Giwar's journey is told through significant time jumps, which create momentum but also prevent certain phases especially formative developments from leaving a stronger emotional impact.

This becomes particularly noticeable when it comes to the protagonist's musical career. Although it is clear that music is a central part of Xatar's identity, this aspect remains surprisingly underdeveloped. The creation and significance of his music could have added considerable depth to the film, but are largely sidelined in favor of other life events.

Despite these shortcomings, Rheingold remains consistently engaging. The story is compelling enough to carry the film, benefiting especially from its authenticity. Smaller appearances from figures within the German rap scene are integrated smoothly and work as an additional layer without ever overwhelming the narrative.

Ultimately, Rheingold is a well-crafted, strongly performed biopic that convinces without truly overwhelming. It is a film that gets many things right, but one that would have benefited from more time and depth in certain areas to leave a more lasting impression.

It felt like 3 different movies for me. The movie has so much potential as the actual life of german rapper Xatar is fascinating and eventful. But the movie is just one big macho movie with a lot of basic and predictable dialogues and jokes that hardly hit their mark. Xatar is a refugee who becomes a criminal and then a rapper, but the movie failed to make that connection. The music is alright, the cinematography is great, story and acting is where it's lacking. Sadly some things in the story are left unexplained and other parts seem overly extended. I think for me the movie fell apart, because of Emilio's acting. I could not relate to many of his choices, as he failed to sell me on his attempt to play this bad boy who has supposedly been through some of the worst situations.