Matt Shea
RubySoho
Morgan Bell
Cibbuano
David O'Connell
Mountain Fog
Peaceful Times @ the Festival of German Films
April 20th 2009 23:33
"Peaceful Times" screened on a wet, cold Monday evening, but the lush, warm tones of Neele Leana Vollmar's latest film were more than enough to bring the audience to the murmuring point; giggles and belly laughs erupted from the cheerful audience for this pleasant, but grim comedy set in 1960s Germany.
The focus is on two sisters: Kasa with luxurious blonde hair and Ute, with empathetic eyes and the narrator. Even though they're only 9 or 10, they seem to be handed the responsibility of guarding their parents, who are a mismatched couple and seem to be frayed at the edges.
While "Peaceful Times" is decidedly humourous, the subject matter is provocative and stirring... the mother and father fled East Germany, living in the West to give their three children a better future. Sure, it's more open and there's less threat of random Stasi interrogation, but the mother, Irene, still pines for her home.
There are people that belong to a place and, when removed from it, find that a piece of their heart begins to wither and shrink. Irene is constantly terrified in the West - afraid of the Russians invading, as they did in Czechoslovakia, afraid of her judgmental West German neighbors, even afraid of burglars.
On the other hand, the father, Dieter, is the one that pushed the family to leave. In West Germany, he has a good job at an electronics company and he's able to enjoy imported cigarettes and listen to American music. Best of all, he's pleased to buy a new house, decorated the way he likes, for his family to grow up in.
It's a stirring film, especially when we see little Kasa and Ute take care of their mother, who always seem on the verge of suicide. Ute makes sure to use the washroom at the same time as her mother to count the number of sleeping pills she takes, and Kasa tries to orchestrate their parents' feelings towards each other.
Families are often dysfunctional, but it's rare that we see the kids take charge. As the two girls struggle with their own situation - as East Germans, they're teased incessantly at school - they cling to each other automatically, and try to heal their parents' broken love.
The Festival of German Films has been uniformly excellent, but there's a continual thread of despair and sorrow that runs through the films that I've seen. "Peaceful Times" does not try to avoid the misery, but plunges headfirst, making fear of the Russians and fear of America something to laugh at.
Best of all, it's a film that makes you appreciate the curious innocence of children. Even though they have a limited view of the world, they're still capable of remarkable insight. The two sisters in "Peaceful Times" are my favourite characters in the entire film festival.
I say: One of my favourites in the festival, and a deliciously funny film. Strongly recommended!
See it for: Director Vollmar does not shy away from her child actors, bringing the camera in close, capturing their inquisitive eyes, reflecting fear and uncertainty.
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