Brother of Sleep

the movie is based on the book written by the Austrian writer Robert Schneider and expands on it beautifully. it can be a bit difficult to follow and if you are looking for an action packed thriller, this is not the movie for you. The main character, Elias Alder, is born in 1803 into a town in the Austrian mountains. The town is so remote, that it is practically never visited by outsiders, and the inhabitants do not leave. there are only two families living in the village, continuously feuding, leading lives that go nowhere. here Elias is born with perfect (even supernatural) hearing. both the book and the movie illustrate the merciless life in a town that has been dying for for years and the life of a young man born with an extraordinary gift, which is worthless in the life and world he is born into. the tag-line "wer schlaeft liebt nicht" translates to "he who sleeps, does not love" - one of the lines from the movie - and the title give ample indication of the characters' futile lives. "schlafes bruder" or "sleep's brother" is death.

All in all a stunningly filmed piece of work - if somewhat cheesy at the end - liked the first organ recital the lead gave - primo - the last one was gas too. The gay theme was cool - if a little strange - I mean you'd have thought the main man wud have cottoned-on to Peter's intense feelings for him...o...well...ya get that in the 'real' world of film! All in all a great watch with some stunning cinemagraphic tableauxs..somewhat spoilt by a script with a weak ending.

Never let it be said that this movie in German is guilty of too much subtlety. Heavy and oft repeated use of anything stark and obvious seems to be the rule. Even the little pipe harmonium in the village church that plays like something in Vienna's Stephansdom is way too much, as are the opening scenes flying over the Alps (Where is Julie Andrews when you need her?) first backwards then vorwärts. And not only one, but several actors with Down Syndrome are on display to demonstrate the theme of inbreeding that lies over this film like a soggy blanket (a remote Austrian village as the setting for Deliverance II?). And what would a story like this be without the recurring mention of (shudder) Original Sin?

The novel has none of these cheesy features. It is written in a straightforward manner, albeit with a strain of sentimentality common in popular German language fiction. As many have already commented, somebody apparently convinced the author that, when it comes to cinematic versions, more is better. Too bad. 4 of 10.

While certainly to many American viewers this film lacks the flare of Hollywood, but that's what it so exquisite about it. I am not exactly a film connoisseur, I am American foreign film fan and I know that this film probably does not appeal to the general public. However for those who like psychological thrillers and

stories about misunderstood and socially inept geniuses, this is amazing.

The music and cinematography is fantastic. Plus this film incorporated 3 of my favorite German actors. The way that the sound was utilized is just unbelievable as well.

For the intellectuals out there who appreciate art in all things, rent or buy this one.

I do not know the (best selling) novel and this adaptation does not prompt me to read it. There is nothing against a film that concerns itself with religious experiences, but this is all very New Age and Vilsmaier does it in the cheapest and most sensationalist way possible: staying on the outside by using all the technical (camera) tricks he could think of and letting the cast screaming their eyes out or by letting them simply overact. In this way the film is just registering an experience, it does not become a part of the film's atmosphere (you have to be an Ingmar Bergman for that).

The very old fashioned melodrama (freshened up by a "modern" element : "oh, that's it!, he's gay!", unbelievable) is not fluently told and the cast is just okay. Mountain scenery and good organ music at least make it bearable.