Dealing with intense issues in an off-handed way, this German film is oddly watchable but ultimately disappointing. Sam (played by writer-director Sanoussi-Bliss) is a black East German writer-singer in Berlin, trying to cope with the fact that his ex-boyfriend (Klein) gave him HIV. As he tries to put his life back together, he relies on his best friend Bastl (Ferihof), a rather unstable Streisand impersonator. After a couple of disastrous relationships, they decide they need each other and move in together ... but the cycle is about to repeat itself. Over and over again.

There's just enough honesty here to give the film some insight as it examines the repetitive nature of love and friendship--how we must find the inner strength to keep going even when things seem like they can't get any worse. But Sanoussi-Bliss never really gets beneath the surface, due to the fairly fluffy script and the fact that it's directed and performed like a comedy. Yes, there are some funny moments, but overall this is quite heavy stuff. The script's serious elements are never addressed in a satisfying way, leaving it all a bit flimsy and superficial, especially at the end. This is a shame, because a lot has gone in to creating realistic characters we can laugh and cry with--but we never feel their pain or joy in a meaningful way.

adult themes and situations, language, nudity

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11.Apr.01 llgff

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