The movie feels both like an adaptation of a short story, and yet also a metaphor for a lengthy and heavy thesis. It is a slow-paced film, with a character striving to guide the film towards its conclusion. It is a unique film.
Definite spoilers follow, so stop reading and perhaps simply see the film for yourself. I will say I found the film thought-provoking upon reflection afterwards. More so than while watching it.
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So the notion of Jewish survivors returning to Germany is a charged one, perhaps some may feel similarly to spouses returning to their abusive partners. Both come into play in this film, Nelly's dream feels impossible.
And yet...
Johnny has his plans, as does the director. They conflict, and the director wins while tipping his hat in multiple ways. The lack of any happy flashback memories, the current employment of Johnny, and the character of Lena as an embodiment of conscience, we know where we are going, and not just to the train station.
Speaking of Lena, is she the inverted half of Nelly? (Typing their names now, phonetically they even *sound* reversed). Is Lenny the touchstone for us the audience?
Or are we the audience cast as the embracing friends who greet Nelly upon her impossible return? The most difficult part of the film was hearing Johnny predict their responses, despite Nelly's protestations.
Anyways a story of "you can't go home again" is not unfamiliar, but not in this sense. Home is more than the house you were evicted from, it's your country, your "friends." It's your sense of security and your very sense of self.
While the nightclub gives the film its name, Nelly's character was truly left for dead before her rise from ashes and bullets. This is a rare return. The singer gets a just as rare encore, the song is slow, sad and poignant.
Singing an impossible song, after surviving an unthinkable nightmare.
Definite spoilers follow, so stop reading and perhaps simply see the film for yourself. I will say I found the film thought-provoking upon reflection afterwards. More so than while watching it.
--
So the notion of Jewish survivors returning to Germany is a charged one, perhaps some may feel similarly to spouses returning to their abusive partners. Both come into play in this film, Nelly's dream feels impossible.
And yet...
Johnny has his plans, as does the director. They conflict, and the director wins while tipping his hat in multiple ways. The lack of any happy flashback memories, the current employment of Johnny, and the character of Lena as an embodiment of conscience, we know where we are going, and not just to the train station.
Speaking of Lena, is she the inverted half of Nelly? (Typing their names now, phonetically they even *sound* reversed). Is Lenny the touchstone for us the audience?
Or are we the audience cast as the embracing friends who greet Nelly upon her impossible return? The most difficult part of the film was hearing Johnny predict their responses, despite Nelly's protestations.
Anyways a story of "you can't go home again" is not unfamiliar, but not in this sense. Home is more than the house you were evicted from, it's your country, your "friends." It's your sense of security and your very sense of self.
While the nightclub gives the film its name, Nelly's character was truly left for dead before her rise from ashes and bullets. This is a rare return. The singer gets a just as rare encore, the song is slow, sad and poignant.
Singing an impossible song, after surviving an unthinkable nightmare.