Liegen lernen (2003)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Hendrik Handloegten

Writers:

Frank Goosen (novel)
Hendrik Handloegten (writer)

Release Date:

4 September 2003 (Germany)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Plot Keywords:

Father Son Relationship | Best Friend | Pregnancy Test | Classmate | Ice Rink

Awards:

3 wins

Cast

Fabian Busch	...	Helmut
Susanne Bormann	...	Britta
Fritzi Haberlandt	...	Gisela
Sophie Rois	...	Barbara
Anka Sarstedt	...	Gloria (as Anka Lea Sarstedt)
Birgit Minichmayr	...	Tina
Florian Lukas	...	Mücke
Tino Mewes	...	Der langer Schäfer
Sebastian Münster	...	Beck
Beate Abraham	...	Helmuts Mutter
Wilfried Dziallas	...	Helmuts Vater
Uwe Rohde	...	Uwe
André Meyer	...	Rüdiger
Jean Pierre Cornu	...	Professor Mutter
Heinz Schubert	...	Onkel Bertram

Also Known As:

Learning to Lie (Hong Kong: English title) (International: English title) (USA) (festival title)

Runtime:

87 min

Country:

Germany

Language:

German

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:M | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:III | Switzerland:12 (canton of Zurich) | Brazil:14

Filming Locations:

Berlin, Germany

Company:

X-Filme Creative Pool

Movie Connections:

References "Verstehen Sie Spaß?" (1980)

Seems generic at a glance, and yet...

Instead of taking the very much abused formula of two individuals finding each other in an unlikely relationship through some unbelievable twist of fate, with the relationship triumphing romantically in the end against all odds, this film is more or less a look at the progression towards emotional maturity for one man.

It begins with the main character running from *another* romantic commitment - one of many, the audience is told, in his life. He takes us back in time in a series of flashbacks to various pivotal moments of his romantic life, starting with his stunning high school sweetheart and first love. I must admit I was rolling my eyes in despair when the flashbacks began but I was surprised - in a good way.

Many elements are clichéd, the acting adequate, the directing and cinematography passable, and when viewed from a strictly academic point of view, there is nothing particularly unique about the style of film-making. However, the film manages to stand out among the sea of intercloned features within its genre. Save for perhaps the slight predictability of some parts, there aren't too many glaring flaws. The dialogue was witty (at least the subtitle was), the characters likable despite their imperfections, and the use of musical soundtrack was effective. I voted 7/10, but I actually enjoyed quite a bit more than that. *guilty pleasure*