"Whisky mit Wodka" is a 2009 movie by Andreas Dresen, one of (East) Germany's most known and most honored director's these days. It scored nominations for its script and lead actor Henry Hübchen at the German Film Awards that year. He plays an actor who is fairly difficult to work with, be it because he is jealous at his colleagues or drunk during shootings and thus a menace for his director. Of course, I am writing about the character here, not about Hübchen himself. It's a film on film, somehow a behind the scenes documentary even. On the other hand, the character is also somewhat admired because of his great past. The action in the movie in the movie is similar to the real fate of Hübchen's character. He's aging and in danger of being replaces by a younger colleague. So he starts an affair with a much younger woman, probably also to strengthen his ego as his younger colleague is also very interested in her.
Alcoholism is one of the major aspects of the movie. You won't hear about it for a while, but then again it returns. There's significant scenes with the central character being drunk at the start, the middle and the end of the film. Hübchen is the heart and soul of the movie, but also the supporting performances were all good, especially Sylvester Groth as Martin Telleck, the director who has to deal with his infant terrible protagonist. This film never achieved greatness, but during its roughly 100 minutes it also never felt bad. It's hard to come up with valid criticism. I personally did not really like the inclusion of the main character's father, which did not really add much for me. Or near the ending the scene in which the sacked alternative to Hübchen's character suddenly kissed the director's wife. The best scenes were maybe when Hübchen's and Hering's characters talked to each other, especially in their costumes with Hübchen always coming off a bit as an evil twin brother.
There is quite some irony that the central character in the movie they are making gets killed right after Hübchen's competitor was sacked, so he could have this very baity scene all for himself. "Whisky mit Wodka" is certainly not a film for the broad masses, but those who enjoy German cinema may have a good time watching this. Recommended.
Alcoholism is one of the major aspects of the movie. You won't hear about it for a while, but then again it returns. There's significant scenes with the central character being drunk at the start, the middle and the end of the film. Hübchen is the heart and soul of the movie, but also the supporting performances were all good, especially Sylvester Groth as Martin Telleck, the director who has to deal with his infant terrible protagonist. This film never achieved greatness, but during its roughly 100 minutes it also never felt bad. It's hard to come up with valid criticism. I personally did not really like the inclusion of the main character's father, which did not really add much for me. Or near the ending the scene in which the sacked alternative to Hübchen's character suddenly kissed the director's wife. The best scenes were maybe when Hübchen's and Hering's characters talked to each other, especially in their costumes with Hübchen always coming off a bit as an evil twin brother.
There is quite some irony that the central character in the movie they are making gets killed right after Hübchen's competitor was sacked, so he could have this very baity scene all for himself. "Whisky mit Wodka" is certainly not a film for the broad masses, but those who enjoy German cinema may have a good time watching this. Recommended.