This is a serious morality play. With only 3 characters, played in a single room, it begins slowly and builds to a gripping climax. The German police inspector and the woman he intends to arrest and deliver to the American authorities for trial are superbly played by Stephen Lang and Nicki Aycox, respectively. The American soldier, well-played by Jordan Belfi, represents American decency, as well as the general naivete of American soldiers in general -- a naivete commented upon by the inspector. Billed as based on actual events, I surmise that it was crafted out of a number of real-life events in Germany after the Russians took over Berlin. I strongly recommend it.
9 Reviews
Schuldig!
lavatch24 June 2018
Warning: Spoilers
In this moving and thought-provoking drama, the principal theme concerns the human emotion of guilt. The time is fall 1945. The setting is war-torn Berlin. The drama unfolds in a well-furnished apartment that has somehow escaped the bombs. Three characters locked in a room unfold their stories and their secrets. And the message is ultimately one about personal and collective guilt.
The central character is Christina (or Frieda), who worked as a prostitute for the Nazis in order to survive. A little girl was born, but subsequently disappeared. Christina/Frieda has not disclosed this information to her fiancé Billy, an American GI and war reporter, who has his secrets as well. Billy fulfilled a mission on the black market, but his action eventually came back to haunt him.
The fascinating character of the German inspector played by the fine actor Stephen Lang, who arrives to sort out the truth of what happened to Frieda's baby girl. It is as if the policeman stands for the conscience of a nation, and it will be Frieda's task to at least relieve the world of one lie. The most interesting dramatic symbol in the film is the mountain of watches observed by Billy at one of the death camps. At that moment, time appeared to stop. In one frame of the film, that image is beautiful recreated.
"Christina" is the rare film that is essentially a stage play that works effectively as a film with no attempt to adapt or "open up" the action. The three actors are terrific, particularly the actress playing Christina/Frieda. The understated performance hit all the right notes in a moving allegory about guilt.
At one point, Christina/Frieda recalls a line spoken by her mother, suggesting that "history is circle of blood and water." Three lives come before the bar in this moving drama. And the verdict of the imagined jury is: Schuldig!
The central character is Christina (or Frieda), who worked as a prostitute for the Nazis in order to survive. A little girl was born, but subsequently disappeared. Christina/Frieda has not disclosed this information to her fiancé Billy, an American GI and war reporter, who has his secrets as well. Billy fulfilled a mission on the black market, but his action eventually came back to haunt him.
The fascinating character of the German inspector played by the fine actor Stephen Lang, who arrives to sort out the truth of what happened to Frieda's baby girl. It is as if the policeman stands for the conscience of a nation, and it will be Frieda's task to at least relieve the world of one lie. The most interesting dramatic symbol in the film is the mountain of watches observed by Billy at one of the death camps. At that moment, time appeared to stop. In one frame of the film, that image is beautiful recreated.
"Christina" is the rare film that is essentially a stage play that works effectively as a film with no attempt to adapt or "open up" the action. The three actors are terrific, particularly the actress playing Christina/Frieda. The understated performance hit all the right notes in a moving allegory about guilt.
At one point, Christina/Frieda recalls a line spoken by her mother, suggesting that "history is circle of blood and water." Three lives come before the bar in this moving drama. And the verdict of the imagined jury is: Schuldig!
Powerful
erbyarby21 July 2010
Christina is a moving and powerful film. It is cleverly staged and lighted. The performances of the 3 main characters are all compelling. It is a dramatic, captivating story that is remarkable relevant to today's world of seemingly endless war. The effects of war, subtle and profound, are presented in a way that makes the living hell become real for those fortunate to have not experienced it first hand. The fact that the film was shot in a condensed time frame, sequentially and on a limited budget make it even more remarkable. The entire movie is shot on one set, yet the camera movements and angles amplify the dialog very effectively and focus the attention of the viewer.
Not worth your time
EddiesFathersSon28 March 2014
I'm not sure why my view is so different from other reviews but it is. I watched this movie from beginning to end in the hope that I can prevent as many people as possible from wasting their time doing the same. Originally Christina may have been a beautiful story. Unfortunately, the translation to film is in almost every regard poorly done. Perhaps with enough budget, a rewritten script and different actors it could be a good watch but the makers had none of these.
Set in Berlin after the end of WWII, it is a dark secret tale in the family of "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" or "Sophie's Choice". This movie has none of their subtlety and though filmed on a single set like Woolf the claustrophobia doesn't enhance the story the way Mike Nichols' directing did. It just makes "Christina" claustrophobic.
The title character is unconvincing as someone who lived through the horror of Berlin at the end of the war. In Nicki Aycox's defense it is her lines more than anything that make her seem not tragic but ridiculous. We know there were "bombs everywhere" and that "they just kept falling" because she tells us six separate times. (And of course because most students of history knew that before they watched)
After the first half hour I wanted the GI boyfriend to either walk out or kick the German police officer out of the apartment. But instead he spends most of his time being dumbstruck. The police officer's motivation is never clear. He's investigating a crime but why, everything that happened in Berlin at the end of WWII this particular case is so important is never revealed.
But when Billy talks about his visit to the death camps I just wanted to smack everyone involved. In one statement the horror that was The Holocaust was belittled and used as a metaphor for an infinitely smaller and morally complicated event. The audacity of that one aspect of the film alone is enough to make this a Must (not) See film.
Set in Berlin after the end of WWII, it is a dark secret tale in the family of "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" or "Sophie's Choice". This movie has none of their subtlety and though filmed on a single set like Woolf the claustrophobia doesn't enhance the story the way Mike Nichols' directing did. It just makes "Christina" claustrophobic.
The title character is unconvincing as someone who lived through the horror of Berlin at the end of the war. In Nicki Aycox's defense it is her lines more than anything that make her seem not tragic but ridiculous. We know there were "bombs everywhere" and that "they just kept falling" because she tells us six separate times. (And of course because most students of history knew that before they watched)
After the first half hour I wanted the GI boyfriend to either walk out or kick the German police officer out of the apartment. But instead he spends most of his time being dumbstruck. The police officer's motivation is never clear. He's investigating a crime but why, everything that happened in Berlin at the end of WWII this particular case is so important is never revealed.
But when Billy talks about his visit to the death camps I just wanted to smack everyone involved. In one statement the horror that was The Holocaust was belittled and used as a metaphor for an infinitely smaller and morally complicated event. The audacity of that one aspect of the film alone is enough to make this a Must (not) See film.
Dark but compelling
wayneyb-896-64442013 November 2010
This story's theme may have been dark but it enlightens us to the grim reality of war. Don't miss the opening minutes of the film when actual post-war footage of Germany and its "survivors" set the tone for Christina's psychological dilemma. Sometimes, none of life's choices are pleasant and Christina's were especially difficult. Perhaps we all need the relentless pursuit of a "Reinhardt" in our lives to admit and accept our painful choices. And we need the love and acceptance of a Billy Calvert to catch us when we break. The actors were topnotch with convincing accents as they led you through the twists of the film. You should be prepared to cowl in your seat and bite your fingernails as this plot is compelling -- A must see!
Not Worth Your Time
rcratkins13 December 2023
Screenwriters spend years learning their craft and the first thing they are taught is to bring the action OUTSIDE of four walls, plus scenes shouldn't last longer than a page or two. This film throws out all screenwriting convention and keeps the actors talking in one, claustrophobic apartment for the entirety of the film. Not only is the lack of action and scenery boring, but it just made me, the viewer antsy wanting a new scene, a new locale, an introduction of a NEW CHARACTER (another actor), ANYTHING to free the viewer of this ultimate boredom. The actress is quite good and engaging, but she doesn't have much to work with here. The male lead is just not good, or maybe all he's been given are reactions to the plot. I've always liked Stephen Lang, but as a German inspector, his performance seems stiff and uncomfortable. Consequently, this film goes absolutely nowhere other than to anger the viewer!! 👎🏼👎🏼
An engaging, thought provoking film
underhill-797-31277821 July 2010
This drama takes place in a single room, a place at first of playfulness and mounting sexual tension, and then very skillfully the film's dialog shifts to confront the viewer with a complex and tense emotional situation that lays bare the awful choices that a young mother has had to face in the holocaust of Nazi Berlin's final days. Steven Lang's performance as a tenacious police detective is totally unexpected for those who saw him as the wonderfully tyrannical Colonel in Avatar. Niki Aycock endowed her character with such a sweep of emotional scope that it could well have required therapy after the shoot. Jordan Belfi's role is that of a reactor to the duel taking place between Lang an Aycock and he handles it seamlessly.It is reassuring that true art can still be produced on a budget when an intelligent script and sensitive direction give fine actors a platform. Superb, instinctive acting is accomplished by the three person cast. A thought provoking and engaging film.
Thought-provoking, but dark.
ellenlively20 November 2011
Warning: Spoilers
Indie films usually stink. Not this one
The acting was okay in this movie. Actually, it was superb. Stephen Lang, especially, was wonderful. I found the American guy rather pointless. The movie could have left without him and it wouldn't have changed too much. The dialog is a bit cheesy and romanticized, but gets the emotions across. Christina is definitely a physiological drama. The plot was surprisingly solid. It may seem pointless and quite boring, but if you have patience, the movie develops nicely. The lighting and colors added to the drama and reminded me of Hitchcock. This movie was low
low, low, low budget, but you didn't really notice. It all took place in one room and there were basically only three people in it. An interesting picture of post-war Germany is painted. I found it very interesting. This film was unpredictable, disturbing, and thought-provoking. I didn't LIKE it, but I don't have any complaints. I wouldn't see it again. I would suggest this may disturb children.
Fantastic job of acting, could not turn it off
mjulprn11 February 2024
This has got to be one among the best jobs of acting I've seen, especially when the play consisted of just three actors. I say a play because I felt like I was at a play and not watching a movie. It was awesome. Nicki Aycox did such a great job in the lead role, and Jordan Belfi and Stephen Lang were great in their respective roles. The whole movie occurs in one room, and starts like you know know what's going to happen, but as it goes on, it builds up into a mystery and you don't know what's really going. The actors really make you feel like you are there, right at the end of World War 2 in Germany. You get pulled into the characters lives and it makes you think and feel about what their lives were like, and makes you think hard about the story. Great job, well done. Thank you!
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