MovieChat Forums > Auf der anderen Seite (2007) Discussion > Pretentiousness alarm.

Pretentiousness alarm.

posted 16 years ago by rorylanelutter
34 replies | jump to latest

I'm a very jaded movie watcher...

I've probably seen too many movies, and I've got some pet-peeves that most casual movie watchers won't have developed.

One such issue I frequently take with movies is when they're pretentious. When it seems that the director is going for an award over the box office. When it seems the movie is made for the critics and film festivals rather than for the people.

This movie sounded that alarm in 5 minutes, and kept me cringing for the rest of the film.

[SPOILERS]

When the lesbian lover of the daughter of the prostitute moved in with the son of the prostitute's accidental killer... accidentally... I thought that was just stupid.

When she got shot randomly, it seemed like a weak ploy to garner critical acclaim.

And how many times can you use random "room for rent" as a plot device in one movie?. EVERY CHARACTER at some point in the movie lives with every other character.

The dad and the son invited the prostitute to live with them. Then the prostitute's daughter moves in with lotte and her mom.

Then the lotte moves in with the son.

Then Lotte's mom moves in with the son.

Then the prostitute's daughter moves in with the son.

The ONLY combinations of characters who never lived together were:
The dad never lived with the prostitute's daughter. (because he killed himself)
The dad never lived with Lotte's mom. (because he killed himself)
The prostitute never lived with Lotte's mom. (because she was already dead)
And the prostitute's daughter never lived with her own mom, but they presumably had before..

[/END SPOILERS]

This movie was pretentious as all hell, and I couldn't enjoy it...

You've got to be one heck of an amazing film maker to sell such a ridiculous plot. This movie didn't pull it off.

Just one man's opinion.

[–] fredwon 15 years ago

Your post is pretentious as all hell, and I simply couldn't enjoy it.

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] f2039 14 years ago

opss wrong place for the alarm. this isnt Andy Warhol board

[–] RottenJonny 13 years ago

This is not a pretentious film. I think it achieves what it set out to do and does it effectively. Unfortunately the same cannot be said for the thread starter.
You have a 'pretentious alarm' and it went off after five minutes? And you are so jaded by all the films you watch that you didn't understand the plot..but then go on and list bits that you can remember 'cos they'll make a nice list.
THAT is pretentious.

[–] Spellbinder888 13 years ago

Notice people who don't like this film say things like:

"I'm a very jaded movie fan"

Or

"I'm a sophisticated movie goer"

Why the disclaimer at the start? Can't you critique the film on it's own merits/weaknesses?

Okay so you don't like Michael Bay films, what films do you like? The only reason you get accused of being Bay fans is because you appear not to have any regard at all for the emotions of the film.

Fair enough, there were a few coincidences that stretch your tolerance but the gut emotion of this more than make up for these shortfalls. What say you about:

The injustice of the mother's death and the sacrifices she made for her daughter?
The touching admiration between the hooker mother and the German son/prof.
The generosity the German girl showed the Turkish girl and the strength of their friendship.
The humanity the son showed his belligerent/drunk/womanising dad.
The wrenching grief and guilt felt by the German mother after her daughter's death.
The strength of character the German mother had to pick herself up and help the Turkish girl.

And so on and so forth.

I feel sorry for you that you are so devoid of human experience that none of these relationships resonated with you on an emotional level.

[–] mburnsderry 13 years ago

Jeez,Spellbinder, get over yourself!

I really liked this film but to describe somebody as "devoid of human experience" just because they didn't like a film is pathetic.

[–] shurbanm 13 years ago

I agree. Vastly overrated drivel.

[–] Pequod88 13 years ago

Neither pretentious nor overrated, this film is rich, complex and challenging. While not made with mass consumption in mind, the film's narrative structure and cast of characters makes for compelling, if demanding, storytelling. A film worthy of one's time that asks the audience to pay attention and think for themselves is rare and rewarding, not pretentious. Highly recommended.

[–] vedrana_a 13 years ago

I like your comment very much rory.

[–] donnamela 12 years ago

I hate pretentious art more than anything, but I really ENJOYED this movie. I wasn't trying to impress anyone by pretending like I "understood" it. In fact, I didn't at any point feel the need to even think about what the movie "meant" because I was just enjoying the ride. I mean, it's an entertaining movie, in my opinion. That I can find meaning in it as well after reading the comments of intelligent people on this board is a plus. I don't understand how the plot tool of having people stay in eachother's homes makes it pretentious. To me pretentious is when someone overestimates the worth and significance of their own work, knowing that there are plenty of douchebags out there who will eat it up because they think it will make them look cultured or intelligent.