Rainer Strecker Movies
- 2003
Set in the early '80s, a time when a new wave of leftist political consciousness and activism had swept German youth (and was just about to disappear as quickly as it arrived), this satiric comedy follows a young couple, Ingo (Hans-Jochen Wagner) and Nadja (Valerie Koch), as they travel to Austria for a weekend of skiing near her parent's luxurious chalet. While Ingo and Nadja have an open relationship, he thinks its time that they commit to one another exclusively, and is hoping this weekend will convince her this is a good idea. However, their privacy is interrupted when several guests arrive -- friends of Nadja's brother Knut (Ingo Haeb), a noted political activist, who, unbeknownst to her, has also planned a ski weekend. As the guests await Knut's arrival, they get the unpleasant news that he's been arrested during a demonstration; several propose that they should come to his aid, while the majority decide instead to go skiing as a way to pay tribute to his commitment to the cause. Sie Haben Knut received enthusiastic notices when it was screened in competition at the 2003 Berlin Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hans-Jochen Wagner, Valerie Koch, (more)
- 1999
Nina Hoss stars in this adaptation of a novel by Klaus Mann as Marion von Kammer, a singer who leaves Germany for Zurich as the Nazis rise to power. However, she finds life in Switzerland dull and suffocating, so she journeys to Paris, where she works at a pirate radio station broadcasting anti-fascist messages. She becomes friendly with a group of fellow Germans living in the city of lights, including nightclub owner Mother Schwalbe (Katharina Thalbach); Professor Abel (Udo Samel), the unofficial leader of the group; Martin Korella (Christian Nickel), a dissatisfied young author; and Kikjou (Boris Terral), Martin's lover. Nina Hoss was named Best Actress at the 1999 Montreal Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nina Hoss, Meret Becker, (more)
- 1988
This musical is combined with a belated (by over four decades) condemnation of Nazi sympathizers. The travelers of a main Berlin subway line are profiled as they go through the daily struggles of life in a hopeless world. A young woman searches in vain for the rock star who promised he would always be there to help her. She encounters sadistic schoolgirls and street people of all ages driven to desperation. Nazi war widows keep the memories of their husbands' brutalities hidden while living off the military pension that rewarded their atrocities. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ilona Schulz, Dieter Landuris, (more)
- 1986
Absence can indeed make the heart grow fonder as is seen in this romantic drama that chronicles the love affair between two disparate men separated by the Berlin Wall. They meet when the Western fellow and his American friend travel to the East side on a tour. There he spies the blond Easterner and feels an instant attraction. The men become friends, and then lovers. They see each other every week, and sometimes talk on the phone. The East-West relationship is not easy to maintain as they must constantly deal with the bureaucratic red-tape and the stress of being apart. Though they both lead widely disparate lives, they are unable to bear their separation any longer and the Easterner finally defects. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1985
This is a conventional story about a relationship between two gay men set in unconventional times -- when East and West Germany were divided. Felix (Sigurd Rachman) has been in a happy relationship with an American from Los Angeles. One day when the American comes for a visit, the two travel to East Berlin where they meet Thomas (Rainer Strecker), and for Felix, that is the end of his relationship with the American. From then on, Felix travels back and forth to East Berlin as often as he possibly can -- a dangerous activity because it always raises suspicions in the border guards. Sure enough, Felix is pulled over one day, and that's when the troubles begin. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rainer Strecker
