CarolAHall There are two films that should be seen back to back as examples of the Wise Fool. One is THE NASTY GIRL, the other; EUROPA (ZENTROPA, English title). Both take on collusion by the German people during and after World War II. Both are Miramax, Weinstein brothers films. THE NASTY GIRL is hilarious and based on a true story. It illuminates an ordinary German small town. A very idealistic, intelligent, agreeable "good German girl" wins a school essay award. Acknowledged by family, teacher and the powerful, she tries to win another, but this time the topic is 'what did your German town do during the time period from 1939-1945?"Dutifully, intelligently, without a single shred of awareness, she begins to dig into the myths of freedom fighters and the good German people in the town she loves. But as any archaeologist will tell you, don't dig if you're not ready to find dead bodies. The myths are all lies. Instead she's uncovering how those in power, in government and the church, colluded for money, power, property and status against their Jewish and Communist neighbors, even revealing her own collusions as a child with the myth of being a good person. Step by step, this great study of collusion, shows how the voice of history is silenced, even by "winning." The most powerful image occurs when investigating and writing about these "nasty" elements surrounding her, she sees she is falling into a Joan of Arc role about to be burned at the stake, for which the religious element in her town will get their jollies. Even worse is the Victor role, where she vanquishes the lies and wins, only to be embalmed in the glamor of the powerful giving her another award, if only it will force her to shut up. Surprise ending, Does she fall for either of these scenarios? See it. See collusion the silent killer, dissected under a very powerful microscope. Then look around you with the tools you've been given.

goodellaa The reviewers do not exaggerate, this really is a fine movie. Don't let the subtitles stop you. Lead actress gives a very fine performance as a woman who grows up in a nice, funny town full of basically good people who lived under the Nazis during Hitler's rule. As she grows and studies the world around her she discovers hints of past and present that were not obvious at first. Let us just say that life under the Nazis absolutely required compromise that could amount to dreadful criminal activity by any civilized standard, and old influences die hard. This woman becomes the catalyst of social change and historic preservation, driving herself to the brink of madness and risking her life in the process. This movie is great fun anyway. The fun humor and joy of life never quite go away, even when events turn dramatic and dangerous. I just can't say enough about the artistry and skill that went into this movie. If you see it and you grew up in a town populated by fallible human beings you may feel charged up by the breathtaking emotional ride toward a better world.

Lee Eisenberg Sonja (Lena Stolze) seems like any ordinary person. That is, until she has to research her town's history for a project. In the process, she discovers that her town was heavily involved in the Third Reich. Then, everyone in town not only turns against her, but tries in every possible way to silence her.Much like another West German film ("The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum"), "The Nasty Girl" shows a woman used as a scapegoat for something that was society's fault (it makes sense for German movies to deal with that; it's exactly what the Third Reich was all about). Another one of Germany's solid masterpieces.Watching this movie, I couldn't help but wonder what sorts of secrets any place, anywhere on Earth, carries.

erb002 The Nasty Girl is a movie unlike any other that's for sure. I found it interesting that they choose to start the movie with her mother being asked to leave her job as a teacher for being pregnant. She was married, and I don't feel like the children she taught were of an age where that wasn't acceptable. I think Michael Verhoeven was trying to foreshadow that she was going to be a trouble maker, but I still didn't think it was necessary for her mother to loose her job. I did like the scene where she throws the fish they were having for lunch back into the water. There is nothing nasty about Sonja's character. Due to the misleading translation of the title, the film is often put in the adult section of the video store when there is nothing pornographic about the film's content. The film really should be put in the drama or history sections of a video store.Overall I thought the film was good. I didn't agree with some of the transitions (like how all of a sudden Wegmus goes from her teacher to her boyfriend over the course of a car ride to school) there should have been more there especially because she is barely a teenager when they first kiss and he is about to graduate from college. But I did like the photography and the overall theme of the movie. I think Sonja's character showed that you can do anything you put your mind to. She was determined to find answers, and she didn't let anything stop her. She wants to make things better for her children so they don't grow up learning all of the corrupt things the her town has been covering up. Overall the production, direction and acting were very well done. I would definitely recommend the film, but please realize you are watching German cinema, which is usually a little strange when you are used to American style movies.