Kebab It Up

Kebab Connection in the theater here. Made me want to go out and eat a big doner kebab. I took my sister, non-German speaker, and she got it all even though much of this comedy was about the stereotypes of foreign run restaurants in Germany. It was a hilarious and sweet story about a young Turkish guy and a young German woman who get pregnant and have to deal with the problems that come along with the difference in cultures. But unlike Head On/Gegen die Wand, which is incidentally my favorite German movie of the last year, it wasn't so hard core. I mean there were some drugs, but there wasn't any real violence and no sex. It showed a more heartwarming embrace of the situation, meaning the Turkish grandparents were into to being grandparents and got over the fact the mom was an infidel faster than their son got over the fact that he was going to be a father. I hope I didn't ruin it for anyone. I don't know if this will make many screens in the states. I think it's worth it though. It is a great breather from some of the heavy films I have seen lately oh and life, which is also heavy these days.

This screenplay was co-written by Fatih Akin, writer/director of Head On. Be sure not to miss that movie. I won't go in to detail about it other than to say the above and that it's a tragic story. The acting is so good, you wonder if this isn't actually their story. Many of the cast in these movies is the same.

Edukated: The Edukators

Tonight we watched The Edukators, aka die Fetten Jahren Sind Vorbei by Hans Weingartner (2004). I was glad the audience (Young and old) was enthused by this story. I wasn't sure they would dig the snapshot of 20-something Berlin life in the new Millenium and the Nachmachung of the 68ers. But apparently they were enchanted. As always Daniel Bruhl (Good- Bye Lenin's Alex) was a great actor and Stipe Erceg is something to look at. The actress who plays Jule, must be really young. She does a good job too.

As a thirty-something now, the anti-capitalist themes, which I love of course, aside, this movie takes me back to my days as a Studentin in Deutschland. I hope I never forget. And the shots of Tirol are awesome.

Burghart KLaussner, who plays the old rich guy, also from Good-Bye Lenin, is a good repeat performance as well.

I look forward to Weingartner's Free Rainer this winter.