I Am Sebastian Ott (1939) Poster

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7/10
This rare German crime film stars Willi Forst in a dual role.
Larry41OnEbay-216 January 2024
I could hardly find anything about it on the web, but I think the following review is a good start, "Truly excellent and perhaps the most 'intellectual' film by Forst, a film that's almost a meditation on the relationship between reality and representation. That goes for many films by Forst, but seldom more explictly than here. Can we regard the 'bad' Willi as just a 'copy' of the 'good' Willi (which we most likely do when we watch the film)? Can the copy take the place of the original if noone can tell them apart? Especially as the 'bad' Willi is far closer to Forst's famous 'Bel ami' persona than his slightly 'anemic' art-historian brother.

In any case, Forst's performance in both roles is magnificent and equally convincing for both parts. And while the sets are certainly more small-scale than in other Forst films, the same care and attention has gone into them, and the scenes in which both Willis appear together are done flawlessly (I noticed one instant of back-projection, but even that was done very well).

Highly recommended, then. A 'small' film perhaps, but sometimes these come closer to the heart of a filmmaker's interests and concerns than the bigger and more famous productions (see P&P's "The small back room" for another example). Brilliant film, and probably not exhaustable in just one viewing."
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