MovieChat Forums > Nirgendwo in Afrika (2003) Discussion > Did anyone else feel that the father was...

Did anyone else feel that the father was unfairly villified?

posted 17 years ago by JackieBlu
6 replies | jump to latest

I've read a lot about how the movie presented a critical picture of the mother. And it's true that when she first got to Africa she worried a bit about trivialities. But still she was seen as a magnetic, somehow intuitive presence. Someone who was able to become, in some way, African. The husband, who consistently makes the right decisions throughout the movie, is seen as somehow a much smaller personality, very unromantic. He makes the right decision to leave Germany and save his family, and then, in my opinion, he makes the right decision to return somewhere where he'll have a future, even though there are bound to be some difficult years ahead in a hateful, overtly anti-semitic environment.

Yet, the wife is never able to fully love him, and somehow the audience sympathizes with her, and with Susskind, feeling that they are somehow more genuine, more earthy than the dad.

Anyway, it puzzled me, and I wonder if the portrayal of the dad in the book shows up the same flaws.

[–] FamGil5 17 years ago

I didn't feel that he was villainized at all. In fact, I felt for him throughout the movie because he loved his wife so much without being loved back until, maybe, the end. He is portrayed as an excellent father who loves completely his daughter, and also show his love for mankind. I especially liked his comment to his wife about her judging the Africans and in doing that she was being no different than the people who forced her to leave her homeland. I felt that she was very uppity andmany times I found myself strongly disliking her, but never him.

[–] doug7347 17 years ago

The father is a heroic figure, who is taken for granted and even disdained by the wife whose life he saved through his remarkable foresight and courage. This is unfortunately very believable and true to life.

[–] JackieBlu 17 years ago

Yes, we all realize that the wife made mistakes, and was immature in how she viewed the world. But, at least in the movie, I felt that there was a tendency to view her as somehow more in tune with "africa" than her husband. That somehow she and Suskind were ultimately less wedded to the whole European ideal...that they were somehow more mystical, as was the daughter. I don't know if that tone is present in the book, but the movie did seem to imply that, prescient, and loving and caring as the father was...he somehow just wasn't as complete as a human being as the others.

[–] Margie24 17 years ago

I didn't see that at all.

The difference between Walter and Jettel was this- Walter had a career in Germany, Jettel didn't- she was a spoiled, pampered wife.

Walter understood in order to survive, he had to humble himself and and basically work for a pittance, managing other's farms. He never complained about it, and considered himself to be lucky to be able to do this. He was a mature, moral man, and didn't undergo any major personality changes. At the end of the war, he wanted to go back to Germany, because he preferred his work as a lawyer to a farmer and he also felt that in order for Germany to truly change its ways, there must be Jews living there and be part of that change.

In Kenya, it was the first time Jettel really had any responsibility. She underwent a drastic change and maturing. She had more emotionally invested in Kenya, because it was the first time she probably had any adult responsibilities outside of taking care of Regina. There truly was nothing for her to go back to in urban, German life, and she certainly felt no sense of moral obligation the way Walter did. She had grown up in Kenya; Walter was mature before getting there.

Susskind's issue with Walter was that he felt he was being naive in thinking anti-semetism could be wiped out in Europe.

I do beleive that Jettel was probably never really head over heels about Walter, but married him because he was a "good-catch." As she matured and became more grounded,she appreciated him more and really fell in love with him. I think that she was hurt that he wasn't more pleased at how well she adapted to the life in Kenya, and didn't consult with her first about returning to Germany.

The character development in this movie was very good, and at different times, my sympathy was with wither Walter or Jettel- neither was the "villian" or the "hero".

[–] svenrufus 10 years ago

The character development in this movie was very good, and at different times, my sympathy was with wither Walter or Jettel- neither was the "villian" or the "hero".

Spot on - I think it's unfair to discuss the characters in this as if they were a fixed point, as they all changed, and all had their separate and conflicted reasons for making the decision they do. Jettel was pretty hard to sympathise with when she first arrived, but given where she came from, is that any surpise. Looking at how she changed over her time there she became someone I really liked and respected.

Walter made some brave and difficult choices for him and his family for completely understandable reasons, but behaved really badly to his family at the same time - a product of his time perhaps, the 'man of the house' attitude where what he wants counts and his family's wishes are secondary. They way he just decided they needed to go back to Germany without asking Jettel was appalling. But I still understand him, and in the context of his story, it makes perfect sense.

As for the relationship between them - very strained at times, but then I wonder how many marriages would get through that degree of upheaval and family loss without at the very least some rough patches. They were all dealing with so much there. I thought the portrayal of these characters was superb, and I liked and disliked pretty much everyone at various points of the film - apart from Owuor, who I liked throughout. A really good, honest film.

[–] zooeyglass45 17 years ago

the lasting image of him wanting to return to Germany I think showed the greatest depth in him. I think it was Susskind who was like "why go back to the people who tried to murder you", and the father is exactly as he says before "I'm an idealist and proud to be one, because there's no other choice for hope, any other path will lead to destruction". I'm not 100% but ballpark.

In short, he wants to bring in a new Germany and he wants it with his family. I think he ended wonderfully. The wife ended as the strong woman she was, and the girl as a mix of the german, jewish, and african, in a unique and power form.