morrison-dylan-fan When the list of films to watch for the ICM Film Festival was announced,I ordered the DVD of this straight away. As these types of things usually go,despite ordering it first,this was the last movie to arrive of the festival viewings,which led to me rushing to the stations.View on the film:Following the stations of the cross paths that Christ went on to crucifixion, the screenplay by co-writer/(with Anna Brüggemann) director Dietrich Brüggemann draws the blood of chilling religious fundamentalism, with the ban from the family of Maria listening to "demonic" music tuning into the de-humanisation shown across all extremist interpretations of religion. Separated into 14 segments, the writers brilliantly unveil the strictness that Maria and her family live under,via the coldness shown at the dinner table of the opening segment expanding to the family giving the cold shoulder to any advice from doctors,as they look to blind faith for Maria.Placing the hands of faith on Maria, director Dietrich Brüggemann & cinematographer Alexander Sass follows her steps to the cross in fourteen extended takes. Impressively keeping each one-take from ever running out of steam, Brüggemann and Sass delicately frame each shot with a subtle closed-off atmosphere, reflecting the impossibility of Maria and her family freeing themselves from the frame and their fundamental state. Joined by a heart-felt Moritz Knapp as Christian, Lea van Acken gives an excellent performance as Maria,whose initial care-free nature Acken brings down with the cross of her family weighing on brittle shoulders,that leave Maria full of grace.

Paul Allaer "Stations of the Cross" (2014 release from Germany; 110 min.; original title "Kreuzweg") brings the story of a strongly religious Catholic girl named Maria. As the movie opens, we see Maria and five other young teenagers getting a last lesson from the local priest, in preparation for their Confirmation, now just a week away. In the next scene, we observe Maria and her family taking a stroll in a park, and it becomes clear very quickly that there are serious tensions between Maria and her mom, who seems to rule the family with an iron fist. What will become of Maria? How will the tension with her mom play out? To tell you more would spoil your viewing experience, you'll just have to see for yourself….Couple of comments: first, the movie is highly stylish, and for an unusual reason: the movie is brought in 14 chapters, paralleling the 14 stations of the cross that Jesus encounters in his final days and hours. Each of these 14 scenes is brought in a single take, and all but two chapters (late in the film) are filmed with a fixed camera angle. Sitting through the first chapter (with the 6 kids getting Confirmation class), I had no idea whether this movie was going to appeal to me. Literally nothing happens. Then the next chapter comes, and the one after that, and slowly you start to realize that you are watching a harrowing family drama set in a highly conservative Catholic family where any sign of modernism is loathed. The Second Vatican Council reforms are flat-out rebuked, and instead 'old style' Cathlolicism is sought at every step in life. Meanwhile young Maria is trying to find her one path, all the while trying to get her stern mom's love and approval. As it happens, I grew up in an all-out Catholic environment in Belgium in the 60s and 70s. A number of scenes in the movie brought back memories I hadn't thought of in YEARS (such as when I had my Confirmation in 1972). The film features a towering and heartbreaking performance from Lea van Acken as the young Maria, leaving you to shake your head in disbelief, and let's not forget Franziska Weisz as Maria's mom, playing about as unlikeable a character as I've seen in a long time. Kudos to director and co-writer Dietrich Brüggemann for bringing us this highly original, if tense, family drama. I wish we'd get more movies of this caliber more often."Stations of the Cross" was released in the US by the good folks at Film Movement, which over the years has released a tons of great foreign and indie movies that otherwise would never have seen the light of day in the US. As usual, the DVD comes with a bonus shortie, and this time it's an 11 min. film from Germany called "One Shot" which director Dietrich Brüggemann made to great acclaim before he had a chance to make "Stations of the Cross". Definitely worthwhile checking out as well. Meanwhile, "Stations of the Cross" is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Horst in Translation ([email protected]) "Kreuzweg" is the newest movie by Dietrich Brüggemann and his sister Anna. The duo already collaborated on several successful projects in the past, such as "Drei Zimmer/Küche/Bad" and "Renn, wenn Du kannst". Anna Brüggemann is also a prolific actress and plays a part in this film here as well. The film, which is also known as "Stations of the Cross" was pretty successful at the Berlin Film Festival last year and achieved several other awards and prestigious nominations since then. The lead character is played quietly convincing by Lea von Acken. She has not acted in anything else so far, but if she decides to become a professional, she may have a good career ahead. You really feel for her and suffer with her. Movies about religious life are not too frequent these days, maybe because it's virtually impossible to never offend anyone, either the Christians or the atheists.So this one made for a nice change and let me tell you, it's very critical towards religion. There are several interesting aspects about it as well. Basically the main character's fate is linked to the one of Jesus Christ and we read a quote from the bible every time a new chapter begins. This quote fits nicely what is about to happen next. Also pay attention how every chapter has no moving camera at all. It's still in one place, so every chapter takes place at a certain location and does not switch places. Also, I believe there is no soundtrack here in this film. It's all about the interactions between the characters and their actions. No music. Just words. The most despicable person in the film is the girl's mother. Even after the death of the child, she still believes, everything is the way it should be and we know she is the one where her daughter got this sick approach to giving her life prematurely to God. Her father is just there, but does not say a word as the mother is clearly the head of the family, the only one with authority and nobody dares to contradict her.The most famous cast member may be Hanns Zischler, but he only has a small part as an undertaker at the end of the film. You may have seen him in Munich. The film's heart and soul may very well be the writing. The dialogs are top-notch from start to finish, the characters' words and actions are realistic. If there is anything, I did not like about the film, it is probably the fact that her brother really started talking at the end just like a miracle. But you can probably make a point that it was just because of the extreme situation everybody was in with Maria (fitting name) was dying at the same time, ironically triggered by a piece of altar bread. This is an excellent film, one of Germany's best in recent years and I still wonder why they submitted a piece of crap like "Geliebte Schwestern" to the Academy awards with films like "Kreuzweg" as possible alternatives. Highly recommended. It's roughly 100 minutes that are as tragic as interesting to watch.

kosmasp But it also can be seen as something completely different. The movie juggles both worlds and it actually succeeds in it. Also having found kid actors who fit the story and the way the movie is made is more than incredible. Obviously the religious tones might sound scary for some enlightening for others. What you make of it, will boil down to what you believe and what you see.While that is up to the viewer to decide and there are some clichés you have to go through to get to the finale, the movie does so in a special style. It's one set up per scene, which means the camera man seems to have the easiest job of his life. Set the camera, roll and let the actors do the rest. As you can imagine the scenes are a couple of minutes long, so not only did the actors have to learn their lines thoroughly, they also had to perform in one take! Not an easy task indeed. If the camera were ever to movie it would have a huge impact ... but does it and if so what is it telling us? You'll have to watch this very intriguing project and make your own mind up about things ...