Film @ UC: Jerichow
Cristina Picozzi
Issue date: 10/23/09 Section: Entertainment
A classic story about a love-triangle is made modern in Christian Petzold's 2008 film, Jerichow.
The film opens with the main character, Thomas, who served in Afghanistan and had been dishonorably discharged, coming home. Upon his return he learns that his deceased mother has left him with all her debts. Thomas starts seeking work, but the best job he can find is working for a cucumber farm.
On his way home from work one day, Thomas meets Ali, a business man who is a drunk. Ali is in need of a delivery driver because he has had his license pulled for a year. After learning the ropes of the business, Thomas and Ali become good friends, but Thomas has a secret. He is in love with Ali's wife, Laura.
Feelings are reciprocated from Laura, and both she and Thomas are involved in an affair. By the end of the movie, Thomas convinces Laura to leave Ali. They both plan to murder Ali and make it look like a suicide, but when Ali realizes what is going on between Laura and Thomas, he kills himself.
Petzold incorporates gender roles into Jerichow and how it makes the love-triangle more interesting.
Laura is beaten throughout the film by Ali. The way he loves her makes her realize she deserves better. She builds up the courage to try to leave him. However, when Laura married Ali, he helped her pay off all of her debts. This continuously discourages her throughout her affair with Thomas.
Although the subtitles were a little confusing during the movie, the body language was very clear. It was an interesting film as far as twists and turns were concerned. Some things, such as the domestic violence, were a bit of a shock.
This week's film for the Film@UC series is called Fear and Trembling. It is the last film in the film series for the semester. The film series will resume in January for the spring semester. For more information about the Film@UC program please contact Dr. Jeff Miller at jmiller@utica.edu.
The film opens with the main character, Thomas, who served in Afghanistan and had been dishonorably discharged, coming home. Upon his return he learns that his deceased mother has left him with all her debts. Thomas starts seeking work, but the best job he can find is working for a cucumber farm.
On his way home from work one day, Thomas meets Ali, a business man who is a drunk. Ali is in need of a delivery driver because he has had his license pulled for a year. After learning the ropes of the business, Thomas and Ali become good friends, but Thomas has a secret. He is in love with Ali's wife, Laura.
Feelings are reciprocated from Laura, and both she and Thomas are involved in an affair. By the end of the movie, Thomas convinces Laura to leave Ali. They both plan to murder Ali and make it look like a suicide, but when Ali realizes what is going on between Laura and Thomas, he kills himself.
Petzold incorporates gender roles into Jerichow and how it makes the love-triangle more interesting.
Laura is beaten throughout the film by Ali. The way he loves her makes her realize she deserves better. She builds up the courage to try to leave him. However, when Laura married Ali, he helped her pay off all of her debts. This continuously discourages her throughout her affair with Thomas.
Although the subtitles were a little confusing during the movie, the body language was very clear. It was an interesting film as far as twists and turns were concerned. Some things, such as the domestic violence, were a bit of a shock.
This week's film for the Film@UC series is called Fear and Trembling. It is the last film in the film series for the semester. The film series will resume in January for the spring semester. For more information about the Film@UC program please contact Dr. Jeff Miller at jmiller@utica.edu.
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