User reviews

If you like to watch teenage-based movies, you would like this movie. It is filled with perplexing angst and drama that any teen goes through. It is about this 18-year-old Jakob, who comes back home after spending time with his father. He lives with his sister for a while, and meets a beautiful young woman, Wanda, who is an Au-Pair from Poland. Now, you all know how it goes: boy meets girl, girl meets boy. But what makes this movie different is the reality of it all. It's not all "Look at me I'm a teenager, that's why I have issues" it's more to the truth of what it is really like to be a teen. The emotions, the problems and the sense of self-pity that they seem to have clouding their judgment. It's so real, it's amazing for a movie. I cannot understand German, but I read the subtitles and listened to their voices and the acting is amazing. Particularly coming from Jakob, played by Tom Schilling, the acting is natural and forthright. Every scene he was in was mesmerizing, he made his character so real you wouldn't know you were watching a movie if your mother wouldn't have been so rude as to talk to you whilst you were watching such beautiful acting! Also the character of Wanda was also played brilliantly by Alicja Bachleda-Curus, who knows how to bring the bewildered outsider into her role. They are the stand outs, but the sister Petra (Anna Von Berg) is acted superbly as well. I have always found foreign movies a lot more interesting to watch on screen, as it is such a good change of culture and mock of the way of life from whatever country the movie is from. As I said before, I cannot speak German, so maybe the acting was a lot worse than I would have thought if it was in English but I couldn't pick our their flaws like I could if it was a fake, re-make made by Hollywood. Being a sucker for kiddo drama, I enjoyed it thoroughly, although I doubt too many people will agree unless they are like myself! Different plot, awesome, matured characters and fantastic actors. I must also point out that Tom Schilling eyes are exquisite. 8/10

"Herz im Kopf", a film probably made for teenagers, must be considered as well done not only for this group. Jakob, trying to find his place in the world after his mothers death, is both true to life and well acted. When watching his attempts to get a job, to arrange his life with his older (and pregnant) sister and of course to get the girl he loves, you are touched not only as a teenager, but as a human, because the feelings transported in the picture are universal. Wanda, a Polish Au-Pair in Germany and object of Jakob's love, is very well acted too. But the biggest congratulations have to go to the screenplay which expresses very true feelings, with several Ups and Downs.

After all a really good movie, not the best this year, but very worth watching!

A picture about a boy who visits his sister and falls in love to an au pair girl from poland. His sister has also some problems.

A typical little bit dull german movie, very realistic, not completely interesting, in the end neither a complete waste of time nor really necessary. It remembered me very much of 'Crazy', even if it was still far more charming than that one. For me personally, both movies are simply too far from any of my own life experiences to be really entertaining.

Watch it if you like realistic movies, or if you liked 'Crazy'.