The Circle

2014

1h 42m

Drama

Romance

LGBTQ+

List

100%

Tomatometer

24 Reviews

77%

Audience Score

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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Emilly Prado

Bitch Media

Even though the stories are hard to keep track of, the film is powerful and inspiring.

Jan 21, 2021

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David Lewis

San Francisco Chronicle

The final frames bring everything full circle, and will leave a smile on your face.

Jun 30, 2020

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Gary Goldstein

Los Angeles Times

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.

Dec 18, 2014

Full Review

Alexander Ryll

Gay Essential

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.

Sep 15, 2019

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D.W. Mault

CineVue

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.

Rated: 3/5

Apr 3, 2019

Full Review

Craig Takeuchi

Georgia Straight

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.

Aug 7, 2018

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andy n

Great movie! Half fiction, half documentary! A very touching story. Slow but poignant!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

robert p

A great movie about love between a gay man and a female impersonator!!!!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Great acting, writing, and documentary about the an important part of LGBTQ history.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

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Audience Member

Beautifully emotional movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A must watch! I loved it!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/09/23

Full Review

Audience Member

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.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

Full Review

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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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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

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