Peter Aust Movies
Hanna Schygulla and Angela Winkler are the stars of the German psychological drama Friends and Husbands. Having both been burned by unhappy relationships with men, Schygulla and Winkler become more and more reliant upon each other. The men in their lives can't come to grips with their strong friendship, and begin writing off Schygulla and Winkler as "oddballs." As in most of her films, writer/director Margarethe von Trotta probes the unspoken human complexities that draw people together. Von Trotta also weaves a political subtext into the proceedings: it isn't immediately obvious, but it's there all the same. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hanna Schygulla, Angela Winkler, (more)
- 1982
In March of 1848 there was an aborted revolution in Berlin that serves as the pivot for the action in this film, the story beginning with an incident that quickly mushrooms out of control. A man fishing along a river bank decides to light up, when a policeman comes over to haul him in for violating the ordinance prohibiting outdoor smoking -- and the officer is thrown into the drink for his efforts. The news spreads, and soon women are protesting the price-fixing at bakeries, people are evicted for being arrears on their rent, and when an anarchist's flag is seen flapping from the window of an inn, a barricade is set up right in front of the inn's entrance. The innkeeper runs around trying to set things right again, a singer comes along who plies the gathering crowd (she wants to start her own establishment), a loving couple takes advantage of everyone's distraction to spend some quality time together, and the students keep streaming in to join the growing throng. Before long, everyone is geared up for a major confrontation with the king's soldiers when along comes a bunch of merry workers with a barrel of beer to celebrate the event -- and even though the fiery leader of the protest is as threatening as possible, the beer stays. Soon the Prussian king shows up waving a revolutionary flag and that sets everyone off -- but not exactly in the manner that the revolutionary leaders would have wanted. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Heinz Hoenig, Gert Haucke, (more)
- 1977
After a life of relentless self-discipline as a champion swimmer, Barbara tries to adjust to "civilian" life. She marries and begins working at a textile factory. Her dedication to perfection drives away her new husband, infuriates her co-workers, and puts her life in quite a bind. Nonetheless, she remains true to herself and by the end of the film has had a divorce and has also begun a swimming program for young people, sponsored by her factory and taking place in the factory's newly made swimming pool. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cox Habbema, Peter Aust, (more)
- 1975
Mathias' parents have just divorced. His mother is a factory brigade-leader and his father is a journalist. Since he is now eight years old, he really wants to spend more time with his father than circumstances allow. He is not amused by the "uncles" who stay overnight with his mother. He runs away during a free school hour to see his father, and finds him entertaining an "aunt," which he finds displeasing as well. Chastened, his father tells him the story of Daedalus and Icarus. At the same time, he promises the boy an airplane ride over Berlin on his birthday. When his birthday comes, his father is nowhere to be found, and Mathias searches everywhere. When he gets home, he finds that his father has sent him a model train set and has either forgotten or disregarded his promise -- for it is never mentioned. A new "uncle" comes into his life at this time, and Mathias realizes that he can't depend too much on others to do what is important to him. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Welz, Karin Gregorek, (more)
