Phoenix

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Godfrey D It's a really good movie Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/07/24 Full Review Bulgantamir B i think marvel s movie perfect Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/06/24 Full Review Bahad j I really liked the characters and actions of the actors Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/05/24 Full Review elana k As Nelly transformed into her own doppelgänger, the tension increased with delicate precision- so impressively in-step with the flowering of the lead character's fragile, tragic and eventually triumphant beauty and grace. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 06/09/24 Full Review Alec B The plot is so nuanced, the characters so keenly observed and realized that it's shocking that the movie is also so economical. No moment is wasted as the film builds to what I can only describe as a perfect ending. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/14/23 Full Review Matthew D Denial and deception are both intertwined in this emotionally chilling piece. Director Christian Petzold's German historical post-war melodrama Phoenix (2014) is fascinating. It is a slow moving meditation on the trauma inflicted by the Nazis and how Jewish people must deal with their pain. Writers Christian Petzold and Harun Farocki adapt Hubert Monteilhet's novel with an interesting perspective of empathy and condemnation. I found it interesting we're watching a Jewish woman returning from a concentration camp, unable to start again with her changed face. She is in denial over her own husband having turned her into the SS and ruined her life. She honestly thinks she can win him back in a twisted turn of events. The German husband is in denial and dismissal of the pain he caused and how cruel the German Nazis were to Jews. It's a very bleak and dark picture. The quiet ending is haunting, but also leaves something to be desired. Nina Hoss is phenomenal as Nelly Lenz. Her final singing scene is beautiful and devastating. Her every expression of grief over her lost life and pathetic clinging to her Nazi husband who nearly got her killed and divorced her is so sad. Nina Hoss is a wonderful actress. She is very subtle and touching with these hurt eyes that linger. Ronald Zehrfeld is sickening as the forceful and controlling Nazi husband Johnny Lenz, now hiding out under the false name of Johannes. He does a good job of showing how cruel and inconsiderate Johnny is, clearly only thinking of money and not even recognizing the wife he betrayed. Nina Kunzendorf is moving as the furious Lene Winter, who cannot believe a Jewish woman sent to the camps could forgive and still love her Nazi husband. She cannot cope with this tragic tale and removes herself from the situation entirely. Petzold's direction is gripping, grey, and dreary. He has a bit of a neo-noir style, but this Vertigo twist story is more sad than revealing. I wish editor Bettina Böhler cut this quicker as Phoenix is merely 99 minutes, but felt twice that length. Hans Fromm's dark cinematography is striking and production designer Klaus-Dieter Gruber recreates ruined post WWII Berlin in rubble. Composer Stefan Will's stunning score is gentle and brings a lot of emotion to Phoenix. Costume designer Anette Guther goes from rags to striking red dresses for Nina Hoss. Makeup artists Barbara Kreuzer, Alexandra Lebedynski, and Irina Tübbecke-Bechem transform Nina Hoss from scarred survivor to haunted lady finding herself again. Hairstyling from Jeanette Kellermann is interesting from the frazzled grey and browns to lush wavy brunette hair for Nina Hoss. In all, Phoenix is frustrating and sad to see such a tragic relationship and how hurt Nina Hoss' heroine Nelly feels. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 11/07/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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