The Circle

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The Circle

2014

1h 42m

Drama

Romance

LGBTQ+

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100%

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24 Reviews

77%

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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

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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

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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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PridePosterStudios

Well this is a little bit lovely, isn’t it?

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/20/24

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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

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Audience Member

A must watch! I loved it!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/09/23

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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

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Audience Member

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.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

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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