Tough Love (2015 film)
Tough Love | |
---|---|
Directed by | Rosa von Praunheim |
Produced by | Rosa von Praunheim |
Written by |
Nicolas Woche Jürgen Lemke Rosa von Praunheim |
Starring | Hanno Koffler |
Music by | Andreas Wolter |
Cinematography |
Nicolai Zörn Elfi Mikesch |
Edited by | Mike Shepard |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 89 minutes |
Country | Germany |
Language | German |
Tough Love (German: Härte) is a 2015 German drama film directed by Rosa von Praunheim. [1] It was screened in the Panorama section of the 65th Berlin International Film Festival[2] where it won the 3rd place prize in the Panoroma Audience Award.[3]
Plot
As a little boy Andy gets severely mistreated by his father until the man leaves the small family for good. Left alone with her son, the mother picks up the habit to force her Andy into incestuous deeds. At the age of eight years Andy feels drawn to Japanese martial arts and begins to train on a daily basis. Unlike his inverted familial situation his dojo provides the security of a reliable hierarchy where he can thrive. His recklessness and his achievements as a tournament fighter assure him the attention of the local underworld. Lacking alternatives he accepts the job offer of a racketeer. More than one pretty young girl is infatuated with his rugged charme. He takes advantage of their feelings by running a prosperous side business as a pimp until a girl named Hannah says something that reminds him of his abusive mother. Overwhelmed by wrath he clobbers her badly and finds himself behind bars. Still Marion, one of his lovers, remains faithful. He really opens up to a woman for the first time and that enables him to tell a therapist the secrets of his obscure childhood. Following his release he becomes Marion's true companion.
Cast
- Hanno Koffler as Andy
- Katy Karrenbauer as Andy's mother
- Oliver Sechting as barkeeper
- Luise Heyer as Marion
- Sascia Haj as Hannah
- Udo Lutz as prison guard
- Stefan Kuschner as revenue officer
- Luise Schnittert as Beate
Reception
Britis film critic Joe Manners Lewis evaluated the film plot as "interesting" but he also stressed that von Praunheim's adaptation occasionally looked more like a documental reconstruction than like artistic cinema.[4]
References
- ↑ "Härte". cineman.ch. Retrieved 2015-04-27.
- ↑ "Selection of Fictional Films in Panorama Now Complete: 34 Features from 29 Countries". berlinale.de. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
- ↑ "Berlin: 'The Second Mother' Wins Panorama Audience Award". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
- ↑ "Berlin Film Festival 2015: Tough Love review". theupcoming.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-04-27.