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The Circle

Play trailer Poster for The Circle Now Playing 1h 42m Drama Romance LGBTQ+ Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 24 Reviews 77% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
In 1950s Zurich, a shy teacher (Matthias Hungerbühler) joins a gay organization and falls in love with a female impersonator (Sven Schelker).
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Critics Reviews

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Emilly Prado Bitch Media 01/21/2021
Even though the stories are hard to keep track of, the film is powerful and inspiring. Go to Full Review David Lewis San Francisco Chronicle 06/30/2020
The final frames bring everything full circle, and will leave a smile on your face. Go to Full Review Gary Goldstein Los Angeles Times 12/18/2014
A richly absorbing historical docudrama revolving around Ernst Ostertag and Robi Rapp, who in 2003 became the first same-sex couple to enjoy legal recognition in Switzerland. Go to Full Review Alexander Ryll Gay Essential 09/15/2019
The Circle does a great job of taking us back to a more repressive time in gay history (which continues in some areas of the world to this very day) - so much so that it's infuriating to watch at times. Go to Full Review D.W. Mault CineVue 04/03/2019
3/5
The Circle doesn't just rely on the focused deconstruction of its protagonists, but by portraying the milieu of a time and place is sharply brought to the present by the varied surrounding characters that support and hinder them. Go to Full Review Craig Takeuchi Georgia Straight 08/07/2018
Stefan Haupt beautifully re-creates the enduring love story between two members, French-literature teacher Ernst Ostertag and hairdresser/drag queen Röbi Rapp, that survived the stresses of secrecy and homophobia of the 1950s. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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PridePosterStudios 09/21/2023 Well this is a little bit lovely, isn’t it? See more 04/30/2020 Great acting, writing, and documentary about the an important part of LGBTQ history. See more 02/13/2017 Beautifully emotional movie. See more 10/07/2016 A must watch! I loved it! See more 01/18/2016 An insight in the post-Hitler era,and a part of the LGBT history in Switzerland that reminds us of all the other stories around the world.A very informative film,part drama,part documentary. See more 09/17/2015 The absorbing portrait of the real couple and the gay life at Zurich in the 40s (highlighted by the "documentary sections") is only overshadowed by its unfinished ideas and lack of depth in the murders and equality subjects. See more Read all reviews
The Circle

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Stefan Haupt

Director

Matthias Hungerbühler

Ernst

Sven Schelker

Röbi

Aaron Hitz

Willi Öttli

Martin Hug

Kommissar Baumgartner

Peter Jecklin

Max

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The Circle

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Movie Info

Synopsis In 1950s Zurich, a shy teacher (Matthias Hungerbühler) joins a gay organization and falls in love with a female impersonator (Sven Schelker).
Director
Stefan Haupt
Screenwriter
Stefan Haupt, Urs Frey
Genre
Drama, Romance, LGBTQ+
Original Language
German
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 10, 2016
Runtime
1h 42m