ChanBot
i must have seen a different film!!
Jonah Abbott
There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.
Kaelan Mccaffrey
Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.
Horst in Translation ([email protected])
"Sommersturm" or "Summer storm" is a German 90-minute (without credits) movie from over 10 years ago. It was written and directed by Marco Kreuzpaintner and is probably still his most known work. Either this or "Krabat". The lead actor here is Robert Stadlober and I remember he was pretty popular back then. However, class prevails and lack thereof as well as he isn't famous today anymore. And yet they made the impossible possible by finding a co-lead to him that is an even weaker actor than Stadlober. Man Kostja Ullmann is really unbearably bad. I swear he had the same face expression during the entire movie. By today's standards, the biggest star in here is probably Hanno Koffler who has emerged as one of the most lauded German actors from his age group in recent years.In reference to my title for this review, I would like to say that the genre of gay-themed movies is especially dominant in terms of short films, but occasionally you will also find one in terms of full features. And sadly, this one here is pretty disastrous. But maybe it's also their own fault. Many of these gay-themed films have rating that are ridiculously high. It seems that the inclusion of gay people or homosexuality as a topic is enough for many to appreciate a film like this. Talk about low expectations. And if they are like that, they actually deserve to be exposed to garbage like this movie here. On a more positive note, I believe some of the supporting actors are actually talented in here, but they were written so badly that it hurts, such as the coach of the rowing team. And how is almost everybody in that training camp gay apparently? At least, that was the impression I got and 50% of those who weren't actually were, but were still hiding in the closet. Very bizarre and unrealistic. Bachleda plays her part well and looks stunning. Probably the best performance from the bunch. She was almost the only that felt authentic. Not enough though to make this extremely flawed film work. Not recommended.
Gordon-11
This film is about two best friends in a rowing team going to train for a competition. They are faced with dramatic challenges and transformations, which changes their lives forever."Sommersturm" is a really beautiful film, both aesthetically and emotionally. The scenery is beautiful, the scene composition is beautiful, and the cinematography is artistic. Emotionally, the film is even more beautiful, as it explores the struggle of a teenage man who is coming to terms with his sexuality. Tobi's inner struggle is very well presented, and viewers can easily identify with the characters.The friendship between Tobi and Achim is warm and genuine, and their youthful energy radiates throughout the film. Their friendship is beautiful. Well, everything about this film is beautiful. "Sommersturm" is a gem and I hope there will be more films like this.
Roedy Green
This movie reminds me of one of my favourite movies of all time My Life as a Dog with its matter of fact objectivity.It accurately captures the unbearable intensity of young love.The amount of athletic shirtless flesh and soft porn sex scenes might be too much for a heterosexual person to swallow, but they are not gratuitous.It deals remarkably accurately with homophobia, both by straights and by gays themselves, not overly dramatising it.It was a hard movie to watch because it reminded me so much of my own teen years, having to watch the infinitely handsome male love of my life, slow-dancing with females.The preposterously happy ending tacked on a somewhat tortured film was simply irritating. It was if it were tacked on by someone other that the original writer and director.My other main complaint is the prudishness of whomever did the subtitles. They simply left out dialog that might shock.
prestoni-1
Some kids growing up find that attachments to their buddies of the same sex, so much stronger and deeper than their emerging interest in the opposite sex. Talking to each other about the taboo subjects of sexual exploration, sometimes sharing some form of mutual sex, masturbation, in subtitles, this film, translates the German to the slang English term "choking the chicken", for the clinical term. Getting laid, referred to as "doing it". The rowing teams in competition all camp out at a lake somewhere in Germany, with a group of competitors from different parts of the country. The all girl Berliner team cannot come, and a gay group "Queerstrokes" comes instead and spoils some plans of the co-ed Baverian team which the camera comes with, focusing on a young pair of boys, best of friends, and their girl friends. And the tragedies of unrequited love, the desire to win, the summer storm descends and fates are sealed in a great mix up of teams and emotions. Some comedy, and some pained heart-aches, some homo-erotic healing and some hetero- healing... some crazy mix-ups and misunderstandings... A lot of things turned upside down with a few delicious ironies on the way... life will be different for a lot of these youngsters after this summer storm....I found it very satisfying, and nicely done, more in the takes of the young cast.... each scene well performed, the camera ads comments of its own, seemingly, leading the story onward. Original editing and pretty photography helped. 7 or 8 stars
