Harvest

I saw this film last night and when it was over, I was rather disappointed. I came to see what others had said about it and noticed it only ran for 98 minutes. It felt more like 3 hours.

Its only redeeming quality is the depiction of the farming profession in post-Communist Germany. One does get a feeling of what it is like for the younger generation in the area, where the adults still have a bit of the old way in their methods and the kids are not quite convinced it is for them. We see some of the beauty of the farm, but also a bit of the decay that was left over from the old days.

I do give the two leads a bit of credit, both for being easy on the eyes and for conveying tons of meaning with their looks and actions. It does not, however, make up for the lack of plot or character development.

"Harvest" is a minimalist docu-drama concerning life in a German farming community. Utterly realistic production that uses a cast of mostly non-professional actors, to show, without any silly pretensions, the lives of two guys who discover they have some deep emotions for each other, in the midst of a very unlikely environment. The look of the film is beautiful, in the same vein as the early works of Peter Weir, and the German countryside, filmed mostly in the early morning, seems to be shrouded in rays of sunlight. Marko decides to give up a career as a banker in the city, to pursue a career that will bring him closer to the land. Thus an uncomfortable friendship begins with Jakob, another young guy, training to be a farmer, but not really happy with the life. The tension builds as the two realize their feelings for each other go beyond friendship, but each is unsure of how the other is feeling. And in a rural setting like that, neither one wants to take the first step. When it finally happens, a world opens up for them both, as they steal a car and drive to Berlin, where they can be more comfortable to explore their emotions.

The fact that two people can find each other in such an environment is a true miracle. "Harvest" is perhaps one of the only gay-themed films that is completely without pretensions, totally without those silly and insulting gay stereotypes. Also, this German film succeeds where the similar-themed "Brokeback Mountain" fails, in that it avoids the usual pitfall of ending in shame and tragedy. It is very nice to see a romantic story about a same-sex couple, where someone doesn't end up getting gay bashed or dying of AIDS or some crap. Yes, this one is totally devoid of that element. And in the end, we are left with an optimistic feeling that these two good guys found each other and that they are going to be OK because of it, rather then punished for their "crime" of caring for each other, like in the melodramatic "Brokeback Mountain." Jakob and Marco are very real guys, and immensely likable. Films like this are very important, as they shatter old stereotypes of how gay people look and behave. I notice a lot of people did not like the film; they called it "boring," and made fun of the farming element. Well I'm guessing that these people might be of the stereotype kind of gay men, who can only relate to nightclubs, drug taking and rampant sex between strangers. I think these people are a bit outdated. I highly recommend this amazing and lyrical film; it is truly unique. Just don't expect a theme song or any drag queens. Don't expect sex scenes either; you won't find it here. what you will find is a slice of real life.

It is known and understandable that German character is not a French or Spanish one, being sedate and tardy, but combination of "sensitive" topic and agricultural environment was apparently not the best idea to keep the film going. True, we obtained a rather good overview of rural economy in contemporary Germany, thoughts and goals of interns, etc., but its overall pace remained too slow, and even "brighter" moments were shown in a gray and hectic manner. There are very few creations I know where virtually-nothing-happening can be fascinating (e.g. The Station Agent).

The main characters and performances are rather good, but there are lots of other, documentary-like figures, whose role and meaning is schematic. So are some scenes and events, particularly when a static locality movie become an insipid road movie.

Well, as for the topic in question, I would recommend Freier Fall - much more versatile and concise. Stadt Land Fluss did not impress me much, although I liked the ending - at least 1 additional point for this.

If you like dime-a-dozen action movies, you won't like this beautiful and sensitive film. If you are drawn to the cinematic possibilities for sensitive portrayal of character and struggle, you should like it. The acting is superb, superior to anything Hollywood is capable of. I've watched it several times and have always been amazed at what has been accomplished here.

I loved this movie. The first time Jacob and Marko sit in the abandoned car is one of the most beautiful scenes I have ever seen in any movie, and they hardly say a word; it's all in their eyes and in the way they move. Kai Michael Müller (Jacob) is especially appealing, but both guys are excellent. This movie is far more sensual than movies with nudity and sex (Harvest has none of either).

I should give up trying to understand why other people don't like the same things I do. I can't imagine thinking this movie is slow or boring or dull. I watched it all the way through in one sitting because I simply couldn't break myself away from it. So much was happening that I didn't want to miss any of it. I've seen over a thousand movies in the past five years, and I could count on one hand the ones I've watched in one sitting.

There is no violence in it at all, and only the very briefest flash of hostility from a passing stranger. Nearly everything that happens happens within and between the two lead characters; and even when it is difficult (as it is most of the time for Marko) it is always tender, never violent. Maybe that's why it bores people.