Full of noise with very little substance. On the background: with so much exciting material in the 60s and 70s this film only takes a meagre glimpse of the politics, history, youth, music, and media. On the foreground: our protagonist has no purposes or goals or beliefs beyond open sexual relationships (when they suit her, one might add). It also leaves no room for the supporting characters as they shy away next to the heroine's frequent and stunning nakedness.
Where the film fails miserably is that pieces of Uschi's memories do not invite audiences to be emotionally involved. They were mere events, things she had done, most of the time simply for spontaneous fun. There are a few failed attempts to portray her wildness, but they instead display her stupidity (e.g., she insists on smuggling drugs yet it's her partner who meets and wins the confrontation).
By the end of the film - of moving from one group to another, mingling with the "high society" of the rock 'n' roll, travelling in a caravan around half of the world, having a prince- like wedding in India, pregnancy, etc. - both the heroine and the audience are still none the wiser. The odd narratives only provides abrupt and surprising statements like when she muses about "the two men I loved most". Huh? Which two? Since when???
Her happiness is built on drugs and sexual pleasure. Her tears are shallow and unmoving. There seems to be no connection between her and any other characters except for the one she's currently sleeping with. (I don't even know what her best friend looks like as she speaks hardly 3 words.) Even then the connection is vague and confusing. Undeniably other characters display stronger personality at times, but it's largely undermined by their inconsistent and implausible behaviour.
The light is on but nobody's home - very much like our main character; perhaps in that sense this film isn't a total failure after all: it mirrors the character in itself.
Where the film fails miserably is that pieces of Uschi's memories do not invite audiences to be emotionally involved. They were mere events, things she had done, most of the time simply for spontaneous fun. There are a few failed attempts to portray her wildness, but they instead display her stupidity (e.g., she insists on smuggling drugs yet it's her partner who meets and wins the confrontation).
By the end of the film - of moving from one group to another, mingling with the "high society" of the rock 'n' roll, travelling in a caravan around half of the world, having a prince- like wedding in India, pregnancy, etc. - both the heroine and the audience are still none the wiser. The odd narratives only provides abrupt and surprising statements like when she muses about "the two men I loved most". Huh? Which two? Since when???
Her happiness is built on drugs and sexual pleasure. Her tears are shallow and unmoving. There seems to be no connection between her and any other characters except for the one she's currently sleeping with. (I don't even know what her best friend looks like as she speaks hardly 3 words.) Even then the connection is vague and confusing. Undeniably other characters display stronger personality at times, but it's largely undermined by their inconsistent and implausible behaviour.
The light is on but nobody's home - very much like our main character; perhaps in that sense this film isn't a total failure after all: it mirrors the character in itself.