Mina Tander Movies
- 2008
A vulnerable doctor discovers that fate can push you in a new direction at the drop of a hat when he succumbs to the advances of a strong, self-assured woman in this soul-searching drama from cinematographer-turned-director Jan Fehse. Dr. Fricke has grown accustomed to caring for others; his patients at the hospital are constantly crying out for help, and his daughter back home is suffering through a grueling terminal illness. Meanwhile, a woman named Sarah has just dumped her coke-addicted in a desperate attempt to pull her life together. Falling in love with Ben, Sarah believes senses a real chance to get a fresh start. But for all of loves brightness, it can also burn. When the married Dr. Fricke senses an opportunity to relinquish his all-consuming role of caretaker in both his personal and professional lives, he grabs hold without considering that the consequences could scald him in ways he never anticipated. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sebastian Koch, Mina Tander, (more)
- 2005
Germany is throwing its biggest party of the year, but some of the folks in attendance don't feel much like celebrating in this comedy-drama from writer and director Johannes Brunner. It's the final day of Munich's annual Oktoberfest, and while most of the folks on hand are having a beer-fueled blast, that isn't quite the case for everyone. College professor Richard (Peter Lohmeyer) is trying to show his kids Jenny (Samira Bedewitz) and Marc (Rick Nadler) a good time, but they're still upset over the fact he's left their mother and is sleeping with one of his students. Birgit (Barbara Rudnik), a waitress, has grown tired of her husband Max (August Schmolzer), a chronically unfaithful musician, through she can't decide if she should leave him. A restless teenage girl (Anna Bruggemann) falls for a boy in a wheelchair (Christoph Luser) until she discovers he has no trouble walking. The girl's mother, Maria (Hildegard Kuhlenberg), has been supporting the family by operating a haunted house attraction near the Oktoberfest, but she's not sure what to do when she learns she's lost her lease. And a couple from Japan (Gen Seto and Nahoko Fort-Nishigami) wonders if Munich was such a good idea for their honeymoon after a long day of drinking. Oktoberfest was shot on location in Munich during the 2005 celebration of the titular festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Barbara Rudnik, Peter Lohmeyer, (more)
- 2004
An international tragedy may confirm a man's worst fears about one of his friends in this drama from Germany. Chris (Antonio Wannek) is a college student in Berlin who becomes roommates and later close friends with Yunes (Navid Akhavan), a Muslim who was born in Yemen but has spent most of his life in Germany and seems perfectly comfortable there. To Chris, Yunes seems like an easygoing regular guy until a bad breakup with his girlfriend. Feeling heartbroken and betrayed, Yunes starts spending time with fellow Muslims from a student group, and after taking a casual attitude toward his faith most of his life, Yunes begins growing a beard, studying the Koran, and moving away from the Western style of life. Chris is puzzled by Yunes' new attitudes, but even more confused when, after a journey to Pakistan, Yunes' personality takes a dramatic shift in the other direction, as he begins drinking heavily, chasing anything in a skirt, and generally turning his back on Muslim traditions. On November 6, 2001, Yunes disappears, and five days later terrorists stage a devastating attack on the World Trade Center in New York City. Chris becomes deeply concerned, and begins to wonder if Yunes may have somehow been involved in the attack, as were other Muslims in Berlin. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Antonio Wannek, Navid Akhavan, (more)
- 2002
Produced and directed by seven Munich Film School students, Honolulu takes place not in Hawaii, but inside of a rural town just outside of Munich, Germany. Several vignettes, lasting approximately 10 to 15 minutes each, are connected by one of the town's public bus routes, outside of which two men (Stefan Maass and Jochen Nickel) booze the night away while waiting for the bus to make its rounds. There is a brief encounter between a shy young man (Daniel Bruehl) and notorious party girl Chiara Schoras), as well as a strange meeting of an eccentric Slav (Aleksandar Jovanovi) and a girl (Julia Hummer) who is fresh from a break-up with her former boyfriend. Other characters work their way into the plot, including lesbian bus driver with dreams of leaving the country for Honolulu, a smooth-talking and slightly unbalanced young man who puts the moves on a shy bride-to-be, and a Middle Eastern immigrant who finds himself comforting a lonely rich girl on her birthday. Honolulu also features Anna Thalbach, Markus Knuefken, Mehdi Moinzadeh, and Alexandra Maria Lara.
~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Stefan Maass, Jochen Nickel, (more)
- 2000
The German answer to American Pie (1999), this teen sex comedy explores the complications that arise after a young man's penis begins speaking to him. When Florian (Tobias Schenke) is paired with his gorgeous classmate Leonie (Mina Tander) for a school play, his garrulous organ wakes him up one morning with many vocal opinions on his sex life -- or lack thereof. Determined to lose his virginity, Florian solicits advice from his vulgar friends (his flummoxed parents have already proven to be of little help). As he pursues Leonie, the teen remains oblivious to the advances of tough-girl Lisa (Luise Helm), a classmate carrying a torch for him. Director Marc Rothermund's second feature after the hit Love Scenes from Planet Earth, Ants achieved similar success in its homeland, where it became one of Germany's top-grossing films of 2000. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tobias Schenke
- 1999
German director Jan Peter helms this story about three teenagers looking for thrills who get more than they bargained for when they visit a debauched, yet down and out rock star. As Ray (Pascal Ulli) enthralls and seduces the three young lovelies, they stay up and party together as the police start looking for the trio. In spite of his hedonistic reputation, Ray tries to kick them out when he learns that they are underage, but one of them, Marie, hides the key, locking them in the condo. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mareike Fell, Annett Renneberg, (more)
