Jan Ole Gerster’s deceptively slender character study has a complex undertow, subtly linking its wallflower anti-hero’s acceptance of his failings with his country’s wider atonement for its World War II past.
A delightfully unforced comedy with a sure grasp of character and setting.
60
EmpireDavid Parkinson
EmpireDavid Parkinson
A snappy, quirky German indie that will thrill fans of early Jim Jarmusch.
60
Time Out LondonTrevor Johnston
Time Out LondonTrevor Johnston
It’s all rather charming, though, since leading man Schilling remains affable while never underselling this kindly yet feckless dropout’s sheer spinelessness.
60
Village VoiceDanny King
Village VoiceDanny King
Gerster and Schilling are more successful when they allow Niko's behavior to be their main subject.
50
Slant MagazineClayton Dillard
Slant MagazineClayton Dillard
Jan Ole Gerster seems infatuated with his main character, but to little avail beyond reveling in his aimless despair.
50
The DissolveDavid Ehrlich
The DissolveDavid Ehrlich
Sporadically amusing and sprinkled with a fine silt of truth that helps elevate Niko above the movie around him, A Coffee In Berlin is at its best when it rolls up the blueprints and lets its hero figure things out for himself.
This debut for German writer-director Jan Ole Gerster seemingly aims to transplant a mumblecore aesthetic into Berlin, with all the requisite aimless hipsters, whimsical touches and rambling narrative dips and dives; but someone forgot to add spontaneity or edge.