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The Einstein of Sex

Original title: Der Einstein des Sex
  • 1999
  • Unrated
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
717
YOUR RATING
The Einstein of Sex (1999)
BiographyDramaHistory

The life story of Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld, a German Jew, who as a physician established the field of sexology, and fought militantly against German anti-sodomy laws in the late 19th century. T... Read allThe life story of Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld, a German Jew, who as a physician established the field of sexology, and fought militantly against German anti-sodomy laws in the late 19th century. The script reveals main characters in Hirschfeld's life including impossible love interest ... Read allThe life story of Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld, a German Jew, who as a physician established the field of sexology, and fought militantly against German anti-sodomy laws in the late 19th century. The script reveals main characters in Hirschfeld's life including impossible love interest Baron von Teschenberg, and Hirschfeld's aids- young Karl Giese and guardian angel, the tra... Read all

  • Director
    • Rosa von Praunheim
  • Writers
    • Rosa von Praunheim
    • Chris Kraus
    • Valentin Passoni
  • Stars
    • Kai Schumann
    • Friedel von Wangenheim
    • Ben Becker
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.2/10
    717
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Rosa von Praunheim
    • Writers
      • Rosa von Praunheim
      • Chris Kraus
      • Valentin Passoni
    • Stars
      • Kai Schumann
      • Friedel von Wangenheim
      • Ben Becker
    • 11User reviews
    • 11Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Photos

    The Einstein of Sex (1999)
    The Einstein of Sex (1999)
    The Einstein of Sex (1999)
    The Einstein of Sex (1999)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Kai Schumann
    Kai Schumann
    • Magnus Hirschfeld
    Friedel von Wangenheim
    • Magnus Hirschfeld
    Ben Becker
    Ben Becker
    • Adolf Brand
    Wolfgang Völz
    • Polizeipräsident
    Otto Sander
    Otto Sander
    • Prof. Steinach
    Meret Becker
    Meret Becker
    • Arbeiterin
    Monika Hansen
    Monika Hansen
    • Gräfin
    Gerd Lukas Storzer
    • Baron von Teschenberg
    Olaf Drauschke
    • Karl Giese
    Tima die Göttliche
    • Dorchen
    Gerry Wolff
    • Onkel von Hirschfeld
    Christa Pasemann
    • Tante Gesche
    Thomas Bartholomäus
    • Student
    • (uncredited)
    Peter Ehrlich
    • Richard
    • (uncredited)
    Sven Gerhardt
    • Preussischer Offizier
    • (uncredited)
    Harald Glitz
    • Hochzeitsgast
    • (uncredited)
    Kay Hunsicker
    • Dandy
    • (uncredited)
    Ulrich Jackwitz
    • Geheimrat
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Rosa von Praunheim
    • Writers
      • Rosa von Praunheim
      • Chris Kraus
      • Valentin Passoni
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Quotes

      Polizeipräsident: What do you think of Dr.Hirschfeld?

      Adolf Brand: A lonely man. As lonely as all heartbreakers.

    • Connections
      Featured in Tunten lügen nicht (2002)

    User reviews11

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Hmmm....
    The film had early on one of the wittiest lines I have recently encountered: M. Hirschfield, barely into adulthood, and discussing with his uncle and aunt what his academic aspirations are, has his aunt give arguably the best line in the film. "M. do you promise to live?" (That is long enough because his father was a disappointment in that department...) "Yes aunt, I do." "You have to promise, you know, because that is a lot of money that will go to your studies." Well, it was more wittingly put in the film, than I have rephrased it. If that is not Lady Bracknell (from O. Wilde's "The importance of being Earnest") converted into Judaism, I do not know what is! Some of the fun aside, I really think this is an epitome of Jewishness: you have to promise not to die, because, you know, you are giving your promise to the law, that is studying, that is in the Name of the Father. And life, my dear, is completely insignificant in matters of the law.

    Too bad the film does not pay attention to its clues. This could have made terrific comedy, but the effect is literal: young Hirschfeld looks anxious, to the wrong direction, missing all the fun, and spoiling ours for the rest of his on screen time. He seems preoccupied in all the wrong ways, along with the script I'm afraid. And when the film shifts gears with his older self, the actor chosen is visibly of a quite different sensibility, so that we miss all the insightful change from his formative to his twilight years. And this, too, courts disaster, for a film concerning an important personality must put that to the test, and be put to the test trying it. None of this happens, and the effect is that of being cheated into cheap editing.

    The camera work takes some decisions that run counter to what distance we may want to take from the film, or not, literally or not so. It is one of these instances that the film-maker seems confused in thinking out the film in visual terms, so he picks up the middle way of almost constantly occupying the middle field. This blurs the characters and their initiatives.

    Or, to put it in another way, don't you feel cheated, when you put to yourself the question "how much of this was devised, and how much derives from books and archives and true research?" For me at least, when you seriously (and not wonderingly) ask yourself that, the film has failed dramatically.

    For the "Einstein of Sex" part, this film has little relativity, even less organizing theory, or Einstein's famous humor. As for the sex, well, the film does not introduce us into such bold matters...
    helpful•3
    1
    • sandover
    • Sep 15, 2010

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • March 16, 2000 (Germany)
    • Countries of origin
      • Germany
      • Netherlands
    • Languages
      • German
      • English
      • Turkish
    • Also known as
      • The Einstein of Sex: Life and Work of Dr. M. Hirschfeld
    • Filming locations
      • Germany
    • Production companies
      • ARTE
      • Argus Film Produktie
      • Hessischer Rundfunk (HR)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 40 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby SR
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.78 : 1

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