The Heart Is a Dark Forest (2007)

Overrated and overhyped

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

"Das Herz ist ein dunkler Wald" or "The Heart Is a Dark Forest" (also the literal translation) is an award-winning German movie from 2007 and the second full feature film written and directed by Nicolette Krebitz, who is mostly known for her acting I guess, but works like the recent "Wild" may change that soon if she gets a bit more prolific behind the camera. This one here not so much. Even with several really good actors at her disposal and a solid directorial effort, the script had too many weaknesses for me really to make it a compelling watch. The way how the film initially moves back and forth between adultery and schizophrenia wasn't too bad, but there were still many moments in it that simply did not feel too authentic to me, not just the ending where Krebitz goes all in with the naked bus ride and all that follows afterwards. As you can see from the poster already, it really is all about Nina Hoss and a decade ago when this was made, she was at least as big a star as she is today, so it should not be too surprising. But it is far from as light a film as you could think judging from the poster. Sander, Schwarz (Simon, not Jessica), Striesow, Petri and mother Bleibtreu are also known and if you like several of these, then maybe you can watch this one, especially if you like Hoss too. I usually do, but more in her collaborations with Petzold than here. The story is definitely not a failure and there are fine references and okay symbolisms at times, but all in all it just did not work out for me and felt too much longing for shock elements that eventually got crucially in the way of turning this into a quality character study or memorable family drama. Pity. I think it was a bit of a missed opportunity and my suggestion is to skip it. Watch something else instead. Final addition: It is a relatively short film, stays comfortably under the 1.5-hour mark and that already includes the closing credits.

The film is excellent, and reveals the world of relationship seen by a woman, just that, seen the world and relationship differently as seen by a man, owner of the universe, who treats women as inferior, not equals. I could identify myself very well with Marie and her feelings, and admire the director for giving expression to a real woman inner situation, very difficult for men to understand, if we don't get into the woman's shoes. I was remembered of the first feminists like Grete Meisel-Hess 1909, and her critics to the male dominance in society. Little has changed since then.This film is tough, still has women to accept, rebel or fight or resign to her position as objects of the men, not respected at all.

Nicolette Krebitz is best known as an actress ("Bandits")and gave her debut as director with "Jeans", a film about the new, trendy Berlin after the reunification.It was part of a whole wave of similar films and didn't make a big impression on me.So I was positively surprised by her new directorial work with the highly romantic and obscure title "Das Herz ist ein dunkler Wald".It is a daring try, albeit not satisfying as a whole.The film is an odd mixture of "Berliner Schule" realism,theatre-like scenes on a bare stage depicting typical moments in a relationship and surreal scenes of a masked ball in a sort of palace,modelled clearly on "Eyes wide shut".The picture takes a bitter stock of today's gender relations and poses some uncomfortable questions.It treats the everlasting battle between the sexes, the moral of the German average middle class and deconstructs all preached ideas of a "new motherlihood".Not only in the teaming of Nina Hoss and Devid Striesow there are parallels to the brilliant "Yella",but also in that both films tell you more about the German society of today than many so called critical films.As in "Yella" the biggest attraction is the face of Nina Hoss, which reflects the abyss of despair and loss.In every scene you feel the will of the director to produce "art" and not all the parts get together well,but as a resume I would say: After "Jeans" I wasn't awaiting a new picture by Krebitz as a director with a curious anticipation, but after "Der Wald..." I am.What more could you say about a film?

Pretty dark it seems. There is nothing in her previous work to prepare us for a family drama of this scale, neither in her acting track record nor in "Jeans", her laid back and somewhat self-centered 2001 directorial debut. In captivating images of growing surrealism, inter-cut with "Dogville"-type flashbacks on a barren stage, we learn of a husband's careless betrayal and its dire consequences. Highlights include a memorable guest appearance by Otto Sander in the part of the arsonist, amounting to less than one on-screen minute in a total of three scenes, as well as the last temptation of art world infant terrible Jonathan Meese in the part of Jesus himself. If you have seen Christian Petzold's "Yella", this movie may have a somewhat "déjà vu" feel to it. Not only does Krebitz share Petzold's lead actors Nina Hoss and Devid Striesow. There are also common themes such as betrayal and illusion. Even some of the sets reminded me of "Yella", especially the red brick house. I don't know whether any of this is intentional though.