Paradies (1986)

User Rating:

4.9/10   

Director:

Doris Dörrie

Writer:

Doris Dörrie (writer)

Release Date:

30 October 1986 (West Germany)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Viktor and Angelika are a straight couple. He is a professor of veterinary science and she has studied arts history...

Plot Keywords:

Human Relationship

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Heiner Lauterbach	...	Viktor
Katharina Thalbach	...	Lotte
Sunnyi Melles	...	Angelika
Hanne Wieder	...	Ruth
Ernst-Erich Buder	...	Freier (Wooer)
Brigitte Janner	...	Detektivin (Detective)
Ulrike Kriener	...	Hure (Hooker)
Katja Flint	...	Verkaeuferin (Seller)
Michael Klemm	...	Museumswaerter (Museum Attendent)
Danny Krausz	...	1. Zuhaelter (Pimp #1)
Gerd Huber	...	Kartenverkaeufer (Ticketseller)
Werner-Albert Püthe	...	Bankangestellter (Bank Employee) (as Werner A. Püthe)
Werner Vogel	...	Taxifahrer (Cabdriver)
Jens Mordass	...	2. Zuhaelter (Pimp #2)
Barbara Winter	...	Krankenschwester (Nurse)

Also Known As:

Paradise (USA)

Runtime:

Germany:106 min

Country:

West Germany

Language:

German

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Finland:K-14 | West Germany:16 (w)

Filming Locations:

Hans-Albers-Platz, Hamburg, Germany

Company:

Delta Film

Soundtrack:

Trouble Tonight

what´s there to laugh about

If you have seen Männer (1985), you might wonder which side Doris is exploring here. Compared to, e.g. Something Wild and Blue Velvet (both 1986), I think she wasn´t the only one who tried to come to terms with (self)destructive passion on film. But the scene I definitively like best, is the one where Lotte and Angie really hate eachother, when (near the end of the movie) Angelika visits Lotte, just escaped from the hospital, in her room, the room where Viktor is driving himself insane (because he cannot decide, choose, nor see clear why he got himself in this situation). Here, Katharina Thalbach is at her best, reminiscant of her performance in Der Blechtrommel (1979, I was about 12 then, and was quite shocked by her luscious presence). Unfortunately, I must say, this film just doesn´t deserve a 7, a 6 at most. The characters just refuse to come to life and their choices seem too random to express any real passion. Maybe because I travelled a road not too far from the picture drawn, or at least think I have a right to judge (with about 1500 movies in the back of my head). A good picture of Doris her development, but other moviemakers also deserve your attention (e.g. Pia Frankenberg, Brennende Betten - 1988).