Der Architekt (2008)
5KDer Architekt: Directed by Ina Weisse. With Harald Abdelhamed, Josef Bierbichler, Hark Bohm, Maria Hofstätter. Georg is a 58-year-old successful architect. When he learns by phone that his mother had died in his home village in the Alps, he initially did not inform his wife Eva about the death. Later he drives her and his adult children Reh and Jan to the funeral in the car. He had not been to his home village for twenty years; he hides the secret of having an illegitimate son there. At the funeral, he tries not to show his restlessness. When the return trip is blocked due to the weather and the family cannot leave the village, the pastor Georg and his family ask for the will to be opened. His great love Hannah, an ex-teacher and his illegitimate son Alex are also present. His mother used her grandson Alex as the sole heir. The truth about his double life comes to light. Eva and the children are stunned.
“u0026quot;Der Architektu0026quot; tells an interesting variation of the old story of a family confronted with serious trouble caused by underlying interpersonal problems and a u0026quot;darku0026quot; secret from the past. This is always a good basis for a psychological drama.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eHowever, pretty much of it is exaggerated and overacted (which is, by the way and IMHO, still typical of German cinema: u0026quot;Realu0026quot; people simply donu0026#39;t behave the same way as most of the on-screen characters). And many metaphors/symbols are simply carried too far (e.g., the name u0026quot;Winteru0026quot; for the troubled lead character stumping through the all-present discomforting winter landscape).u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eJosef Bierbichler is really great, but the rest of the cast canu0026#39;t keep up with him. This is especially true of the currently way overrated Matthias Schweighöfer. He should really take some acting classes in order to get rid of his mannerisms (e.g., constant grimacing); his performance is plain awful.”
