Brigitte Hobmeier Movies

This picaresque, melancholically-tinged German-language biopic from director Markus Rosenmüller dramatizes the colorful life-story of Mathias Kneissl, one of the most legendary bandits-turned-folk heroes in European history. The time and place in question: Bavaria at the turn of the 20th century. Born into a working-class family with the slimmest of prospects, Mathias has little choice but to turn to a life of crime. By the age of 17, he's involved in illegal poaching of game to enable the day-to-day survival of his family, assisted by his 15-year-old brother Alois and his beloved father. This, alas, ends on a heartbreaking note when gendarmes catch Herr Kneissl in the act and systematically beat him to death; in the process, Alois completely loses his patience, whips out a gun, and shoots one of the officers in the head, injuring him. Tragically, although Matthias had nothing to do with this action, he gets thrown behind bars as an accomplice along with his dear brother, and serves a six-year sentence. Upon release, Matthais makes a sincere and legitimate attempt to go straight - a desire abetted by his relationship with the lovely Mathilde, with whom he settles down. But in time, the officer with the head injury, Forsch, turns up once again, wracked by vengeance and driven by a desire to systematically ruin Mathias's life. In the end, Forsch's efforts prove so successful that Mathias has no choice but to turn back in the direction of crime. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

When a boorish German entrepreneur falls prey to a notorious, Kenya-based banking scam, his last-ditch effort reclaim his cash by traveling to Africa and confronting the con-artist serve as a noble epilogue to a reckless life in director Hans Steinbichler's dramatic account of one man's downward spiral. A diagnosed manic-depressive whose impulsive behavior only serves to further isolate him from his increasingly irritated family and friends, Franz Brenninger (Josef Bierbichler) is a once-wealthy businessman who has since fallen on hard times. When Franz receives letter promising a healthy payoff if he simply allows millions of dollars to be transferred through his German bank account, he enlists the aid of Kurdish translator Leyla (Sibel Kekilli) and secures the 50,000 Euros needed to seal the deal, telling his trusting son Xaver (Philipp Hochmair) that he is going to use the cash to pay for his ailing wife Martha (Hanna Schygulla)'s much-needed eye surgery. Upon realizing that he has been scammed and has nothing left to lose, Franz quickly scrounges whatever funds he can gather and travels to Nairobi with Leyla in hopes of confronting the elusive con artist and getting the money back. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

A summer trip to Berlin offers a fleeting glimpse into the lives of the country's youth in this vibrant, character-driven drama from director Martin Gypkens. When twentysomething Florian arrives in town to pay a visit to long-lost pal Pit, the duo quickly reminisce before heading out to a party. Soon meeting up with many of Pit's acquaintances, the film follows various intersecting lives as they are woven to create an intricate, microcosmic look at life's ups and downs as seen through the eyes of Germany's youth. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi