"Schlaflos", which means "sleepless" of course (terrible title as there is no reference about insomnia in this film at all, so a thousand movies could be called like that, there isn't even talk about a character getting not enough hours of sleep each night), is a German television film from 2009, so this one is already over a decade old now. And strangely enough, it is still shown on national television despite how bad it is. Then again, you could clearly feel as if the filmmakers and cast here had the intention to come up with something deep and meaningful. Only problem is that talent is completely absent in every field of production. I will give you a few examples. It starts with director Kleefeld and writer Ehry already. Both were no rookies back then and the writer was truly experienced already in fact, also much older than the writer and Ehry is now maybe retired, at least (according to imdb) has not worked in almost half a decade on new projects. However, both their bodies of work are nothing to be proud of. The writer's may still be slightly superior, but both possess very little creativity and artistic ambition if you take a look at everything else they worked on. As a consequence, this film turned out as weak as expected, maybe even weaker. Lead actress is Senta Berger. She is somebody who has been in films for half a century or so I believe, extremely experienced actress, but at the same time a prime example of quantity over quality. What helped her was maybe her recognition value, maybe that she has always looked younger than she actually is/was, maybe the people (not just romantically) with whom she spent time. Then again, you cannot really blame her. I mean despite her absence of talent (okay she is no Neubauer or Thomalla, but still) getting cast for prime time films? Why would she say no to that. The ones to blame are those who picked her for their movies. Directors, casting directors etc. And of course, even worse, those who give her awards attention for nothing performances like this one here. Alright, as for the rest of the cast, German film buffs will recognize other familiar faces. For me that would be Trautmansdorff, Zirner for sure and Peters to some extent. But the film is never about anybody other than Berger's character. And that is what really killed the film overall. I will elaborate a little further in the next paragraph hy I think so and mention a handful specific scenes and inclusions in here.
It starts right away on a very low note. Berger's character is of course a super famous actress and as she is released from prison, dozens of reporters are already waiting outside with their cameras. So cringeworthy. Of course, Berger plays a woman of class, really sublime, as she always does in her movies. Guess what? She also gives the same performance in every movie, maybe she actually is as bad as Neubauer and Thomalla if we are honest. It is absolutely ridiculous how Berger plays an actress' actress in this movie and how her character is supposed to be seen as some kind of creative genius. Just take the scene when she fakes those tears to get what she wants. One of several examples that were oh so cringeworthy from this perspective taking into account the main character's profession. Another would be when she applies for a job and hides her face because she is so famous and everybody would know immediately who she is. Sigh. Next part, actually a recurring, where the film sucks is the gun reference. It is so pathetic to watch how on the one hand the waynted to show us the protagonist as a tough woman, but at the same time imply she is not a violent woman, like how she does not know how to use the gun and would never do it. But she is very dedicated and a true fighter and a victim, who was in jail for so long. Her daughter also does not give her the respect she should on several occasions, like when she does not say she is a mother now. To the woman who brought her up. Oh yes, and of course the doctor who hugs Berger's character on one occasion is much younger than her and there is nonetheless an implication that he is won over by her. By her charm. By her as a woman. Maybe both. They are not too specific there. Of course, our likable fighter heroine also manages to win over a little boy and help him. Kids always work wonders in there movies. Well, only to the easily influenced. Another thing that can be said here is that the idea that science moved forward so much within 10-15 years is also not factual, especially because how they are getting closer to the truth is not through new technologies, but just random video recordings and it is just stupid. All doubts, all questions could have been handled way differently in the trial that sent her to jail. So, like I said in the title of my review, the moment you take a deeped look at the characters, especially at the story and idea behind it all, you will find so many flaws that this can, no must, be called not just a weak movie, but a terrible movie. The idea that the actual killed is dying as well is also pretty ridiculous and basically just included that she gets a bigger punishment than Berger's character. The confrontation with the daughter in the end feels entirely forced, fake and without courage whatsoever. And the very key here, namely that Berger's character indeed finds out about the truth, is bad enough already. In reality, in 99% of the cases it never would have happened like this and the truth would have stayed a secret no matter how much time and energy the protagonist would have invested. It probably would have been over with the doctor calling the cops (as he should have) when some lunatic insane female shows up with a gun at his doorstep. I mean the second she left and they would have arrested her and she would have gone back to jail for another decade. But hey, here things take a most different turn of course. It's not just the key story, also the small moments where the film struggles so hard, like when Berger's character acts in a way where she pretends she does not care anymore, when Berger acts really poorly in her anger sequence after she confronts the real killer or when she asks another character what they think if she did it. Of course, we know from the very start she was innocent. Okay, that is all then I have to say about this film. No hesitation here really, as I stated earlier, in giving this a massive thumbs-down. Highly not recommended. Utterly uncreative outcome overall these minimally under 1.5 hours. Skip 100%. Oh, I almost forgot: The music is also pretty bad, especially the song(s) used on two occasions, such as at the very end. So did not fit the film at all. Now I am really done.
It starts right away on a very low note. Berger's character is of course a super famous actress and as she is released from prison, dozens of reporters are already waiting outside with their cameras. So cringeworthy. Of course, Berger plays a woman of class, really sublime, as she always does in her movies. Guess what? She also gives the same performance in every movie, maybe she actually is as bad as Neubauer and Thomalla if we are honest. It is absolutely ridiculous how Berger plays an actress' actress in this movie and how her character is supposed to be seen as some kind of creative genius. Just take the scene when she fakes those tears to get what she wants. One of several examples that were oh so cringeworthy from this perspective taking into account the main character's profession. Another would be when she applies for a job and hides her face because she is so famous and everybody would know immediately who she is. Sigh. Next part, actually a recurring, where the film sucks is the gun reference. It is so pathetic to watch how on the one hand the waynted to show us the protagonist as a tough woman, but at the same time imply she is not a violent woman, like how she does not know how to use the gun and would never do it. But she is very dedicated and a true fighter and a victim, who was in jail for so long. Her daughter also does not give her the respect she should on several occasions, like when she does not say she is a mother now. To the woman who brought her up. Oh yes, and of course the doctor who hugs Berger's character on one occasion is much younger than her and there is nonetheless an implication that he is won over by her. By her charm. By her as a woman. Maybe both. They are not too specific there. Of course, our likable fighter heroine also manages to win over a little boy and help him. Kids always work wonders in there movies. Well, only to the easily influenced. Another thing that can be said here is that the idea that science moved forward so much within 10-15 years is also not factual, especially because how they are getting closer to the truth is not through new technologies, but just random video recordings and it is just stupid. All doubts, all questions could have been handled way differently in the trial that sent her to jail. So, like I said in the title of my review, the moment you take a deeped look at the characters, especially at the story and idea behind it all, you will find so many flaws that this can, no must, be called not just a weak movie, but a terrible movie. The idea that the actual killed is dying as well is also pretty ridiculous and basically just included that she gets a bigger punishment than Berger's character. The confrontation with the daughter in the end feels entirely forced, fake and without courage whatsoever. And the very key here, namely that Berger's character indeed finds out about the truth, is bad enough already. In reality, in 99% of the cases it never would have happened like this and the truth would have stayed a secret no matter how much time and energy the protagonist would have invested. It probably would have been over with the doctor calling the cops (as he should have) when some lunatic insane female shows up with a gun at his doorstep. I mean the second she left and they would have arrested her and she would have gone back to jail for another decade. But hey, here things take a most different turn of course. It's not just the key story, also the small moments where the film struggles so hard, like when Berger's character acts in a way where she pretends she does not care anymore, when Berger acts really poorly in her anger sequence after she confronts the real killer or when she asks another character what they think if she did it. Of course, we know from the very start she was innocent. Okay, that is all then I have to say about this film. No hesitation here really, as I stated earlier, in giving this a massive thumbs-down. Highly not recommended. Utterly uncreative outcome overall these minimally under 1.5 hours. Skip 100%. Oh, I almost forgot: The music is also pretty bad, especially the song(s) used on two occasions, such as at the very end. So did not fit the film at all. Now I am really done.
