@ arsaib

Saw Winterreise (Winter Journey) last week at an Indo-German festival in Bangalore and it was a disappointment. The first part of the film is quite taut with a restless camera and tight closeups detailing the psychosis of an old man as he tries to come to terms with a failing business and his wife's illness. However, midway through the film, he gets involved in an African scam and the moment the film moves to Africa it becomes a sad mess. Added to the exoticism is the man's change of heart - from calling every black man "@#%$ @#%$" to the decision to stay back in that country. Very limp and very irritating, especially after a long day at work and an equally long drive to the theatre where it was being screened. And, Hanna Schygulla, who was one of the prime reasons for picking out this film to watch out of an uneven package, had precious little to do but look old and ill. 

M