Glossy polemic aimed at class inequality and western consumerism, which will divide any potential audience along the pressure points of its ideologies. This opens up like a hip political thriller inspired by the direct action of millennials turned off by laissez-faire government.
Eventually it becomes more like a dramatised debate- so not very cinematic. Daniel Brühl, Julia Jentsch and Stipe Erceg play the photogenic dropouts who aim to challenge the system by breaking into the secure mansions of the 1% to contaminate their pristine privileges.
Until one of the complacent fatcats (Burghart Klaussner) unexpectedly returns home. So the activists kidnap him, leading to an extended exchange of ideas on what happened to the idealism of the '60s counterculture from the perspective of the radicals of the new century.
And there's a decent twist. OK, it looks like the revolution will be sponsored by Gap... maybe because advertising has absorbed the symbols of rebellion! But it's an effective nudge for disengaged liberals which doesn't compromise on its recycled message- never trust anyone over 30.
This German film was an excellent watch.
Suspend your disbelief (pretend DNA and CCT does not exist in 2004) esp with plot holes, unlikely events, and random coincidences and roll with it.
The leftwing revolution theme and throwback to 1968 and 1970s activism is VERY German, as is the alpine snowy scenery. In Britain we lack snowy mountain ranges and back in the 1970s we were all Wombles and Wurzels rather than Baader Meinhof and Karl Marx...
Very well acted by all the leads, Daniel Bruhl has done loads since, DAS BOOT series and more.
Decent music too. My only criticism is it is a tad too long, sags in the middle and too many romance scenes which are flab - could be reduced by 20 minutes probably if the unnecessary love-gushing is dispensed with.
The ending twist (no spoilers) is fun, however unlikely.
4 stars overall