Lea (1996)
51-year-old Herbert Strehlow, a furniture restorer, falls in love with 21-year-old Lea, who has not spoken a word since childhood when her father killed her mother. She bears a striking resemblance to Herbert's dead wife. They get married, but their relationship seems doomed, until gradually each one manages to penetrate the mysterious world of the other, and they begin to realize that they are bound by a kind of spiritual relationship. For Lea it is the death of her mother, for Herbert it is the death of his first wife. His hard exterior slowly beings to thaw, and he starts to show feelings and responses that soften Lea's initial hatred and fear of him, and which put their relationship in a more positive light.
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Excellent but underrated film
best movie i've ever seen.
This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.
The acting in this movie is really good.
This movie is totally deceitful depiction of life in Slovakia in that time, i am shocked czech director could have make something this deformed and mendacious. Shame, shame, shame. Disgusted.
Like life, Lea neither starts nor ends happily. And as in life, it's what happens in between that defines who we are and who we choose to become. Lea the film and Lea the character are mesmerizing from first frame to last.Unblinking in its brutal depiction of despair and the internal struggle for survival, Lea tells the story of two broken people, one who is afraid to talk and one who is afraid to open up, who, brought together through mercenary means, discover a unique method of communication and find in each other healing, hope, and unexpected love. It is a simple film with a simple story, and simply told, it is simply exquisite.
This is a very sad yet strangely intoxicating film. My eyes dried out because I couldn't take my eyes off the screen. You never know whether Lea's story will turn for the better or the worse. She is a very sad soul that you just want to scoop up and take care and hope that Mr.Strehlow will do the same despite his unorthodox methods. Although we have seen Lea's story before, this German-Slovak perspective should not be missed.
I have never seen a sadder movie in my life. This is a tragic story of a very special person who lives the harshest existence film may have ever seen. This story is a genuine poem into itself. It feels like an old story because it is. It reminds us that woman have suffered this kind of abuse for thousands of years and still do today. Take a chance and go see it. There is some happiness in a strange and poetic way.Bring some tissue and a sweater, this film is cold.7 bucks out of 8