Inga Busch Movies
A woman who is mourning the love of her life falls into a relationship with a mysterious stranger in this psychological drama from director Monika Treut. Sophie (Inga Busch) is a German artist in her early forties who has been thrown in an emotional tailspin after the death of the woman she loved, Chen Ai-ling (Ke Huan-ru). Sophie has created a video installation in tribute to Ai-ling, and travels to Taiwan to present it at a gallery in Taipei, Ai-ling's hometown. After arriving in Taiwan, Sophie is approached by Wang Mei-li (Ting-Ting Hu), a reporter who asks for an interview. Sophie isn't interested at first, but Mei-li is persistent, and it soon becomes obvious she desires more than just a chat with Sophie. As Sophie begins thinking back on the details of her relationship with Ai-Ling, allowing us to see their story in flashbacks, she grows closer to Mei-li. But Sophie learns that Mei-li isn't actually a journalist even as she continues to do research on Ai-ling's life, and she begins to suspect that Ai-ling has an unusual secret. Ai-mei (aka Ghosted) was an official selection at the 2009 Berlin International Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Inga Busch, Ke Huan-Ru, (more)
- 2008
Die Toten Hosen front-man Campino headlines iconic German filmmaker Wim Wenders' drama about a world-renowned photographer who finds a new life and a new love while being targeted by a tenacious trigger-man. Finn (Campino) is a successful shutterbug who leads a hectic life, gets precious little sleep, and doesn't go anywhere without his trusty headphones. One day, when Finn's life begins to unravel, he leaves Düsseldorf behind to find peace in Palermo. Just as the seeds for a new life are planted, however, a mysterious assassin comes gunning for Finn with a vengeance. Inga Busch, Dennis Hopper, and Lou Reed co-star. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Campino, Giovanna Mezzogiorno, (more)
- 2008
An unfulfilled teacher and a failed actor form a tenuous bond after being set up on a date by a mutual friend in this lighthearted romance from director Martin Walz. Anna is an elementary school teacher who feels as if her life has devolved into a constant stream of disappointments, and Thilo is a thirty-something actor who sells wine by phone and still longs for his big breakthrough. Lately, Anna's old friend Valerie and her husband Moritz have noticed that their Anna seems especially down. In hopes of brightening her spirits a bit, the couple sets Anna up with Moritz's best friend Thilo. When Anna and Thilo finally meet face-to-face, however, it just seems that the timing is all wrong; Anna can't stop talking about her love for teaching and learning, and Thilo is stuck on the subject of being an actor. Yet despite the awkward nature of their first encounter, Anna and Thilo both sense that a strange bond has been created. When a screeching streetcar blasts by outside, Anna is reminded of the school-bell and jolts up from her seat. A brief kiss for Thilo and Anna out the door, marking the beginning of a curious relationship that may prove more lasting than either party ever suspected. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alexandra Neldel, Jan Henrik Stahlberg, (more)
A man gets in touch with his spiritual side for a very material reason in this comedy from Germany. Jacob Zuckermann was a young man living in Eastern Germany when the Berlin Wall divided the nation in 1961. Jacob's mother escaped to West Berlin with her other son, Samuel, in tow, but Jacob was left behind. Putting himself though school, Jacob became a lawyer, albeit one with a less than prestigious practice, and changed his name to Jaeckie Zucker. However, after Germany was reunified, Jaeckie's (Henry Huebchen) practice collapsed, and he began making a living hustling pool. Luck has not been kind to Jaeckie lately, and he owes 60,000 dollars to the bank. Jaeckie thinks he could win enough money to pay his debts in an upcoming high-stakes pool tournament, but he doesn't have the 5,000 dollars needed to enter. Bad news has a silver lining for Jaeckie when he gets word that his mother has passed on, and he and Samuel stand to inherit a fortune from her estate. However, there's a catch -- she has specified she must have an Orthodox Jewish funeral if her sons are to receive the money, and while Samuel (Udo Samel) is a strict follower of the faith, Jaeckie's religious education stopped not long after his mother left. Jaeckie and his conspicuously gentile wife, Marlene (Hannelore Elsner), head to West Berlin, where they have a less-than-joyous reunion with Samuel and attempt to help with the details of the funeral while giving themselves an overnight education in Judaism. Meanwhile, Jaeckie schemes to find a way to sit shivah and play in the pool tournament at the same time. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Henry Huebchen, Udo Samel, (more)
- 2000
Norwegian filmmaker Anne Hoegh Krohn directs this melodrama about a very patient lesbian. After a five-year stint in jail, Ellen (Karoline Eichhorn) is out looking for her bisexual lover Katrin (Inga Busch). Katrin, however, is none too keen on the prospect of meeting her. As the film progresses, we learn that Ellen took the rap for Katrin's slaying of her husband, hoping that one day they would be together. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dirk Borchardt, Inga Busch, (more)
- 2000
Michael Busch directs this techno thriller about a ne'er-do-well lush named Merz who is taken in by a group of researchers because of his telekinetic abilities. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Inga Busch, René Hofschneider, (more)
- 1998
Aprilkinder refers to the children of the Turkish guest workers in Germany, most of whom are born in April simply because they are conceived in July during the father's annual trip back to Turkey. Cem works in a sausage factory to support the family. His brother Mehmet sees dealing drugs as his best chance in life, while his sister Dilan is trying hard to seduce Mehmet's shy friend, Arif. When the father brought his children to Germany from the Kurdish part of Turkey fifteen years ago, he excepted a different kind of life. But now he is too disillusioned to care; he is sick and has drawn into an internal exile. The mother tries to hold the family together as she prepares to marry off Cem to a cousin who is to be smuggled into Germany illegally. But Cem is in love with Kim, a prostitute. Based partly on the experiences of director Yüksel Yavuz, who is a second-generation Turkish immigrant in Germany, Aprilkinder is a realistic account of the disillusioned lives of immigrants estranged from their own country and yet always strangers in their adopted land. Aprilkinder was screened as part of the New German Films at the 49th International Berlin Film Festival, 1999. ~ Gönül Dönmez-Colin, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Erdal Yildiz, Inga Busch, (more)
- 1998
Drachenland is a drama about Hannes, a computer designer who left Berlin seven years ago and has since become successful in the United States. On returning to Germany, he is haunted by images and emotions from his past -- his dead father, relatives he did not get along with, the woman he left behind. His feelings of guilt, his deep-seated fear of human relations and everything else he ran away from seven years ago take the shape of a dragon and appear in the virtual world of the computer game he is working on, entitled "Dragonland." Drachenland is a psychological drama that reflects some of the anxieties of the post-modern, computer age man. It was screened as part of the New German Films at the 49th International Berlin Film Festival, 1999. ~ Gönül Dönmez-Colin, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marek Harloff
- 1996
An incarcerated homicidal maniac hits the road after taking hostage the pretty prison medic who told him he has a malignant brain tumor. With a few surprising twists and much inky-black humor, this German comedy chronicles the strange adventures between the hostage and the killer. Edgar's ruthless exploits are well-known in the criminal community and word of his break-out travels fast. Meanwhile Lucy (the hostage) takes Edgar to a restaurant to sample sushi for the first time. Just as they begin to dine a crook bursts in with a big gun, saying he is Edgar's brother. He then begins sternly lecturing Edgar for killing their foster family. Edgar goes into one of his strange fits and kills his brother. This is only one of a long string of murders as many crooks want to kill Edgar, and none can succeed. One person who benefits from the melee is the local arms dealer whose business is suddenly booming. Despite all the bloodshed, Lucy remains strong and calm. In fact she slowly becomes the dominant one and as Edgar's sexual needs begin to reawaken, a strange romance blooms. Edgar begs Lucy to make love to him. Unfortunately, she has chosen to be celibate. Fortunately, she decides to make a sort of exception for him and takes him to a hotel where she subjects him to one of the funniest, darkest love scenes in recent cinema. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Corinna Harfouch, Jürgen Vogel, (more)
- 1996
This taut, well-wrought German drama was originally made for television in 1995 but was such a critical success that it was released in theaters the following year. It is the gripping story of a young journalist who begins reporting on a series of prostitute murders. Ina Littmann's prime suspect is author Henry Kupfer who was recently released from prison after allegedly murdering a string of hookers. His newest book is on that subject. As her suspicions mount, Ina begins gathering evidence but she does not learn the truth until she interviews Kupfer live on television. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1996
A Berlin woman endeavors to choose between two lovers on a snowy Christmas Eve in this German drama. Art student Julia has been living with Christian, a policeman, for several years, but has recently embarked on an affair with Frank, a bartender. She is first seen waiting for Frank so she can tell him that she chooses Christian. Suddenly the phone rings. It is Christian calling to tell her that he is in east Germany recuperating from a skull fracture. Frank then calls for a little sex-talk, he voices his doubts about Christian's story. Sure enough, after he hangs up, Christian calls, perfectly healthy, for a little intercourse himself. Julie is naturally confused by her men and so goes to bed. No sooner does she fall asleep when Frank appears armed with body oil and a gas mask. The telephone interrupts their passion. Once again it's Christian. This time, Julia figures out that he is in their Paris love nest and so sends him a fax to tell him so. She and Frank then go frolicking in the snow while Christian gets involved with a singer. Matters are finally resolved with the revelation of Julia's closely guarded secret. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
