Lisa Kreuzer Movies
Lead actress, onscreen from the '70s. ~ All Movie Guide- 2002
Nicht Fisch, Nicht Fleisch (Neither Fish, Nor Fowl) follows the personal journey of a Korean-born 19-year-old raised by adoptive parents in a German village. Michael (Ill-Young Kim) is generally accepted within the community, but nevertheless has grown up torn between two very different cultures. Once out of high school, Michael ventures into the city of Berlin on his own and meets several other Koreans (including an attractive student played by Ju Youn Kim) who are struggling with their own cultural identities. Nicht Fisch, Nicht Fleisch is acclaimed short film director Matthias Keilich's first feature. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ill-Young Kim, Ju Youn Kim, (more)
- 1993
Three women have come together from elswhere to attend a wedding in Berlin. The three of them form a "team" in order to explore the newly reunified city, and discuss their lives, values, and philosophies in an evidently highly improvised manner. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
This difficult-to-follow arthouse film explores the parallel stories of two very idealistic Zionist women who never met in real life. The story concerns the German poet Elsa Lasker-Schuller and the Russian Mania Schochat. Elsa (Lisa Krezer) lives in 1920's Berlin as Germany is degenerating into the chaos from which Hitler will emerge. Mania (Rivka Neumann) is living in Palestine, amid some of the first and most rigorous experiments in genuinely Marxist living, at a radical kibbutz. Each survives to be present at the beginning of the Jewish state, and each is sorely disillusioned. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lisa Kreuzer, Markus Stockhausen, (more)
- 1985
This West German spy drama moves along a fairly predictable course that begins when French industrialist Bernard Corain (Bruno Cremer) is asked to determine whether Heinz Steger (Heinz Bennent), an East German ex-intelligence officer, would be willing to defect. On his next business trip to East Germany, Corain discovers that yes, indeed, Heinz and his wife are willing to leave. After consulting with the authorities in the West, Corain returns to help smuggle Steger and his wife out of the country -- but things get fouled up, and the flight to the West is not going to work as planned. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bruno Cremer, Heinz Bennent, (more)
- 1985
An indirect condemnation of half-baked political views and the loss of traditional values, this drama centers on a trio of young people who travel the byways of the former West Germany to a gathering of neo-Nazis. Charlotte (Beate Jensen) is capable and attractive, Karl is a right-wing conservative against the very suggestion of physical hygiene, and the young fellow they pick up along the way is enthralled by their pulp-fiction politics. The trip heats up when the trio get into trouble, shoot two cops, and manage to escape capture. That traumatic event leads them to further violations of the law, and by implication, comments on the nature of neo-Nazi morality.
~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rolf Zacher
- 1984
In this enigmatic thriller, Susannah (Tusse Silberg) is suddenly herded out of an apartment in the middle of the night and brought to a police station for extensive questioning about why she was in a place that belonged to a known criminal. What the police do not know is that Susannah has been somehow involved in the death of a woman and has reunited with her sister Julie (Lisa Kreuzer) in Berlin. Julie herself has some rather unusual friends -- including Eddie Constantine the American-born French actor and singer who plays himself. It is these characters and their dialogue and asides, and even background action and scenery, that form the real body of this specialized film -- not the plot. For these reasons, this type of film is best limited to those who are more interested in avant-garde than in commercial cinema. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tusse Silberg, Paul Freeman, (more)
- 1984
This story filmed in the style of a docudrama, is about a German pediatrician so intent on helping sick patients die that his enthusiasm goes against human compassion. Dr. Schumann (Hans-Michael Rehberg) starts an official organization chartered to assist patients in committing suicide, if that is their determined wish. Young Pierre (Klaus Rohrmoser) works for Dr. Schumann, and his first assignment is to unplug the life-support system from a patient in intensive care. Pierre has no problem in carrying out his mission, but when another terminally-ill patient changes his mind about euthanasia at the last minute, Dr. Schumann tells Pierre to ignore the man's change of opinion. If this was not upsetting enough, Pierre unfortunately falls in love with a lovely woman and then finds out she is one of Dr. Schumann's patients scheduled for euthanasia. From that point onward, Pierre and the doctor are set on a collision course that cannot be avoided. Given the controversial nature of the subject matter, this film is sure to draw attention -- even though it sadly skims the surface on the ethical and moral questions raised within the storyline. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Klaus Rohrmoser, Hans Michael Rehberg, (more)
- 1983
Loosely based on the colorful, combustible life and career of German filmmaker Rainer Werner Fassbinder, A Man Like Eva (Ein Mann Wie Eva) stars actress Eva Mattes in male drag as an obsessive, sadomasochistic movie director. Eva is currently working on a filmization of Dumas' Lady of the Camelias, and in so doing mercilessly uses and abuses everyone in "his" cast and crew. Attempting to sustain a "family" atmosphere on the set, Eva succeeds only in driving everyone crazy--and at least one person to suicide. After a while, A Man Like Eva takes on the dimensions of a genuine Fassbinder film, though one suspects that the late director might have been able to tighten up the sometimes slack plotline. Trivia note: in 1973, star Eva Mattes was the leading lady in Fassbinder's Jail Bait. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eva Mattes, Werner Stocker, (more)
- 1983
L'Homme Blesse is known in English-speaking countries as The Wounded Man. Jean-Hughes Anglade is a lonely, isolated young man who lets no one get close to him. He meets a street hustler and comes out of his shell, going 180 degrees into gay Obsession. Though he has yet to physically approach the object of his affection, Anglade builds up so much unrequited lust that it explodes with horrible results. L'Homme Blesse isn't rated, but viewership should definitely be confined to those older than 21--and even some of them may not be ready for it. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean-Hugues Anglade, Vittorio Mezzogiorno, (more)
- 1982
The internationally renowned string quartet had been performing together for most of their adult lives when their lead violinist suddenly died, leaving the remaining three confused about their lives and careers. Up till then, all they had known were the rigors of constant practice and traveling. Music was everything, and they never took the time to sample Life's other pleasures. The trio decide to split up, but then a young violinist shows up and convinces them to reform the group and let him take over. He is one of the most talented players they have ever heard and the quartet once again makes sweet music. But as good as he is on stage, the youth is a wild man off stage who freely smokes dope, sleeps with fans, and parties whenever he can. Seeing that his private life has not affected the brilliance of his playing and even suspecting that it may even improve his playing, the three old players are thrown into personal tail spins as they look back at their own austere life choices. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Héctor Alterio, Omero Antonutti, (more)
- 1981
Birgitt Haas (Lisa Kreuzer) has become the target of the German Secret Service -- she is a German terrorist and the Secret Service would like her eliminated. To that end, they request some help from their French equivalent, represented by Athanase (Philippe Noiret). His plan is to enlist the unwitting cooperation of Bauman, a middle-aged Frenchman (Jean Rochefort) bereaved by the loss of his wife to another man, and perhaps ready for the solace that may grow from a chance encounter with Birgitt. Althanase takes Bauman to Munich and sets up the "accidental" meeting, intending to create a passionate liaison that could then be blamed for her murder. But the hard-boiled Athanase begins to feel some sympathy for Birgitt, who is ready to leave the terrorist life behind, and he also begins to loathe his own part in the ugly plot. Meanwhile, Bauman does not suspect any deception until something goes wrong -- leaving the course of events wide open. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Philippe Noiret, Jean Rochefort, (more)
- 1980
The doctors and patients in a psychiatric clinic are the subject of this hard-hitting docudrama by director Wilma Kottusch. As Dr. Angela Aschmann (Lisa Kreuzer) is introduced to her new job in the clinic, she slowly learns more about the condition of the patients, how they are treated, and what problems may plague some doctors who have already burnt out a long, long time ago. From helpless patients to overworked personnel, from nurses to a macabre undertaker, the people mixed together at the clinic are carefully delineated. The camera crew and actors actually went to a real psychiatric hospital, not just to film background scenes, but to have the actors engage the patients and staff, improvising dialogue along the way. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lisa Kreuzer, Jürgen Prochnow, (more)
Set in England's dreary midwinter season, this slow-paced story chronicles the partial awakening from apathy of Robert, a DJ, as he investigates the mysterious death of his brother. As he travels, he is constantly surrounded by music from David Bowie, Kraftwork, Sting and Devo, among others. Despite his apparent intention of looking into his brother's death, he can't bring himself to investigate even the most blatant clues. As his anomie returns, he begins discarding any connection with his surroundings, eventually boarding a train bound for he knows-not-where. Despite the movie's relentlessly grim storyline and setting and its slow pace, some reviewers reported that they found this feature oddly refreshing. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Beames, Lisa Kreuzer, (more)
Wim Wenders' mines Dennis Hopper's real-life experience as a painter and collector in this existential take on the American gangster film based on a Patricia Highsmith novel featuring the notoriously sociopathic Tom Ripley. Hopper stars as the eponymous American, currently a middleman selling the work of American painter Derwatt (Nicholas Ray), who has feigned his own death to increase the value of his paintings. While auctioning this work in Berlin, he meets art restorer Jonathan Zimmerman (Bruno Ganz), who he learns is suffering from an incurable blood disease. When a shady friend (Gerard Blain) requires Ripley to find a "clean" non-professional to do a contract hit in order to pay off a debt, even he is reluctant. But he quickly realizes that the physically vulnerable Jonathan would be perfect for the job, and tries to get him to accept by employing various subterfuges to persuade him that his condition is even worse than it is. For his part, Blain guarantees the restorer that his family will be financially secure for life, and a deal is struck. As usual, nothing works out quite as expected. ~ Michael Costello, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dennis Hopper, Bruno Ganz, (more)
- 1976
Good guys chase bad guys and vice versa, only instead of horses, they use automobiles in this "western on wheels." ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Christine Kaufmann, Lisa Kreuzer, (more)
- 1975
Those even remotely familiar with the work of German director Wim Wenders should not be surprised that he has a title like Kings of the Road in his resumé. Rüdiger Vogler plays Bruno, an itinerant movie-projector repairman, who tools about the dusty roads along the East-West border of Germany in search of work. A traffic accident brings Bruno in contact with suicidal Robert (Hanns Zischler). Bruno gives Zischler a ride, and the two become friends. Eventually Zischler decides to give civilization another chance, while Bruno continues his freewheeling ways alone. Along the way, director Wenders makes several trenchant comments about the breakdown of society by showing the number of movie theaters that have either closed down or resorted to showing X-rated films. Prominent German film critic Hanns Zischler plays one of the protagonists. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rüdiger Vogler, Hanns Zischler, (more)
- 1974
Alice in the Cities (Alice in den Städten) was the first of German director Wim Wenders' films to be lensed in part in the United States. Phillip (Rüdiger Vogler) is a roving German reporter who, after a chance encounter with an elusive American woman, reluctantly accepts temporary custody of little Alice (Yella Rottländer). Phillip takes Alice in hand on a trek across Germany to locate the girl's grandmother. The plot takes second place to Wenders' fascination with the contrast between the neon-and-billboard ambience of the U.S. and the rolling hills and industrial pockets of Deutschland. Alice in the Cities was the first of Wenders' "road trilogy"; the follow-ups were Wrong Move (1975) and Kings of the Road (1976), both also starring Rüdiger Vogler. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
The Wrong Move and The Wrong Movement were the English-language titles for German director Wim Wenders' Falsche Bewegung. Made for television, the film is an update of Goethe's Wilhelm Meister. Ruediger Vogeler plays aspiring writer Wilhelm Meister, who goes on a long odyssey in the woods in search of truth. His companions on this journey are pragmatic Therese (Hanna Schygulla), bisexual Mignon (Nastassja Kinski, billed under her real name, Nakszynski), Mignon's hippielike boyfriend Laertes (Hans-Christian Blech), and artistically bankrupt poet Landau (Peter Kean). The foursome accept the hospitality of an industrialist (Ivan Desny), who unbeknownst to all but himself is a deeply troubled ex-Nazi. Novelist Peter Handke wrote the screenplay for Wrong Move. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rüdiger Vogler, Hanna Schygulla, (more)
