+++ Opinion +++
It never ceases to amaze me how big the discrepancy is between what the cinema audience demands and how it ultimately acts. It is constantly being heard that people would like to see more original fabrics. And how frustrating it would be that so many German films are melancholic historical material – or kitschy romantic comedies full of well-worn jokes. Where are the different, refreshing German films? So much for the longings expressed. But the reality is as follows:
March started with “JGA: Jasmin. gina ann” an original German comedy with lots of wit, charisma and surprising drama. Completely without sticky kitsch and sad historical subject matter, but with the warmest press recommendations. At DashFUN, for example, there were strong four stars. But what happened? Despite an aggressive advertising campaign and a broad start in 456 cinemas, the film just managed to reach tenth place in the weekend charts. At the end of its theatrical run, “JGA” sold fewer than 105,000 tickets. An undeserved disgrace that sends the wrong signal to the lenders.
One can only hope that the well-deserved success is finally waiting in the home cinema, where “JGA” is now available on DVD and Blu-ray:
» “JGA” on DVD and Blu-ray at Amazon*
If it should be the push you need to arouse your curiosity: The main role in “JGA” is played by Luise Heyer, who is not only known from the hit cinema “The boy has to go to the fresh air”, but also from the Netflix sensational series ” dark”.
The singles Jasmin (Luise Heyer), Gina (Taneshia Abt) and Anna (Teres Rizos) wrote for their mutual friend Helena (Julia Hartmann) planned an epochal bachelorette party. But the castle in the air is already falling before the trio can collect Helena: several companions have canceled for reasons that could not be further from the singles. Sick children, for example. When, to make matters worse, even Helena throws in the towel, Jasmin, Gina and Anna decide to simply celebrate the party of their lives on Ibiza without a bride-to-be. There, of all places, they meet Jasmin’s ex-boyfriend Tim (Dimitrij Schaad) and his buddies Simon (Trystan Pütter), Stefan (Axel Stein) and Django (Arnel Tači). A fatal encounter that entails a tremendous emotional chaos…
Film is not only art, but also business. This is a sad but almost inevitable truth. Anyone who only goes to the cinema to see a sequel shouldn’t complain that there are so many sequels. And if even a film like “JGA” that is suitable for the masses and released into the cinemas with a considerable number of copies and proper promotion efforts flops, one should not be surprised if German studio bosses even consider such films as a “risk”. Which can have bad consequences…
Say goodbye to the prospect of more tragi-comic, cleverly written productions with a witty, mostly female cast in a refreshing composition. And Hello! to other romantic comedies in which Elyas M’Barek plays a cheeky dude who is being tamed by an assertive, well-read woman. But enough of the pessimism: Fortunately, the next film by “JGA” director Alireza Golafshan is already in the works – so we don’t have to worry about it yet. Nevertheless, the “JGA” cinema result remains a nuisance, as it would have had what it takes to be an (early) summer hit with a liberating effect on local cinema events.
The characters may (typically at a cramped-fun bachelorette party) walk around in over-the-top regalia, but they’re drawn authentically: Heyer, Abt and Rizos play witty, yet true-to-life singles who could cope with their relationship status if they didn’t constantly feel the unspoken pressure of expectations in their environment. But instead of going on a confrontational course, and thus straining their bond with their sedentary friends, they desperately take refuge in an exaggerated party mood.
What follows from this are subtle battles of words and equally creative and revealing “It’s funny because it’s true, and that hurts!” situational comedy. As soon as the eponymous heroines give up their claims of being in a good mood in Ibizia, the film even gradually becomes a dramatic insight into the attitude towards life of the older members of Generation Y. Those millennials who were brought up to always question everything, but are now in one are of an age when society only asks for answers.
Fortunately, the German audience does not just leave frustration and question marks behind with their viewing habits with me. Sometimes I can look at his decisions with complete satisfaction. As disappointing as the “JGA” numbers are, the ticket sales of another German film with a top female ensemble are just as gratifying: Karoline Herfurth’s dramedy “Beautiful” is one of the ten biggest hits of the year so far with almost 1.6 million tickets sold.
» “Wonderful” on DVD and Blu-ray at Amazon*
The film with Nora Tschirner, Martina Gedeck and Emilia Schüle as well as Herfurth herself in leading roles also received a strong four out of five stars from DashFUN. And despite the topic of “beauty ideals”, which at first glance sounds depressing, it is an extremely positive film. In her review, colleague Helena Berg found, for example, that “Wonderful” was the “perfect feel-good film for the winter”. But as is well known, after all the talk about the perfect beach figure, good encouragement can’t hurt even in summer…
*The links to the Amazon offer are so-called affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we will receive a commission.
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