Yancey Reviews

Stars (1959)

The most impressive East German movie

[10/10 · 18 October 2001]

Even the two German states co-existed side by side for almost 40 years the cultural exchange was a minimum. One thing, West Germans should learn from the neighbors is the fact how seriously the East German cinema treated the difficult subject of the holocaust. STERNE (Stars) is one of the most touching movies I've ever seen. The tragic love story between a Jewish school teacher and a German soldier is filmed with decency and careful respect. Off course there is no happy-end. The movie ends with a shattering close up of the Jewish girl Ruth (Sascha Kruscharska) - staring out of the death train's barred skylight. How sad that even a movie like this didn't reach the Western audience during the cold war.

Burning Hearts (1945)

An evil but nevertheless perfectly done picture

[7/10 · 16 April 1999]

Some legends rank around this last big budget nazi movie. Well, the battle scenes with more than 180.000 extras, the flood-sequence and the destruction of Kolberg are filmed with some enthusiasm. But as an instrument of propaganda it's not convincing anymore. It seems even director Veit Harlan didn't believe the plot he was ordered to tell (and which is historically wrong). There's a lot of shrill and loud shouting and the typical glorification of Prussian militarism that seems so ridiculous and pervert when you consider what has happened at the same time in real life when the movie was released (30 January 1945). An evil but nevertheless perfectly done picture which was fortunately released too late for maintaining the resistance of German citizens against Allied forces.

Arlington Road (1999)

very untypical Hollywood thriller

[6/10 · 16 March 1999]

A surprising, exciting thriller with an end totally against the rules of Hollywood. The plot is based on real facts, but the arrangements of absurd coincidences make the whole story not very believable. Was is necessary to present this group of mad assassins like aliens from outer space? Nevertheless, it entertained me, and I left the theatre in a strange mood which I can best describe as disturbed and threatened.

The Last Valley (1971)

A frightening insight in the brutal world of the 30-Years-War

[9/10 · 16 March 1999]

Of course, the historical background of Germany's Thirty-Years'-War (1618-1648) is too complicated for a movie with a running time of only 120 min. But this film gives a well done, horrible impression of a time of cruelty, plague and devastation. John Barry's epic score is brilliant!