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Catarina Raacke Movies

1985  
 
The Guiness Book of World Records inspired this mix of black, social comedy and barbed satire by providing the motivation for a young man to sit down in front of a TV set and try to break the world's record for continuous viewing. Mixed in with his first joking attempt to get his name in the world's record book are scenes of an actual attempt at setting new lengths in this dubious couch-potato marathon. Evidence of a certain deterioration of mental acuity after hours in front of the tube soon shows up -- the young man has become serious about breaking the TV-watching record, and an obsession begins to take hold.
~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

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Starring:
Uwe OchsenknechtLaszlo I. Kish, (more)
 
1985  
 
Amadeus only speculated on the probable causes of the death (both actual and spiritual) of 18th-century composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The Czech-German Forget Mozart goes several steps further. When Mozart (Max Tidorf) is found dead, it's fairly obvious he's been murdered. Rounding up the likely suspects, Austrian police chief Count Pergen (Armin Mueller-Stahl) demands that each of his prisoners recall, in detail, his or her relationship to Mozart. As things unfold, however, it is clear that "guilt" is a relative term: the "murderer" turns out not to be a who, but a "what"--and even this is an elusive commodity. Nothing more can be revealed here without giving away the plot and the film's point of view. Originally titled Zabudnite na Mozarta, this existential exercise seemed destined from the start for limited art-house and festival viewings. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Starring:
Max TidofArmin Mueller-Stahl, (more)
 
1984  
 
Werner (Hanno Pöschl) is a swift and canny cardsharp about to face a surprise showdown with his retired father in this wry story about outfoxing the foxes. Werner plays poker with all sorts of devious tricks to ensure that he will come out ahead -- otherwise, why play? Each year, Werner goes to visit his father -- a former actor -- on his birthday, and the two celebrate the occasion. This year, his father has set up a friendly poker game to welcome his son, just a few companions out for a pleasant time. Werner joins the group, and, much to his astonishment, his father and the two buddies start winning every hand. Rattled and confused, Werner is about to lose more than his shirt -- though there is some hope that his aging father will, in the end, have pity on his son and give him back his Porsche -- and maybe an explanation. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

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Starring:
Hanno PöschlSigfrit Steiner, (more)