NAKED/NACKT
2001 GERMANY 100 MIN COLOR 35 MM
DIRECTOR: Doris Dörrie
GENRE: Social comedy
AWARDS: Venice Film Festival selection
In German with English subtitles
U.S. RELEASE: N/A

Ein Happy-End?

It all starts with a simple question. “When was the last time you were really happy?”

For the three couples in Doris Dörrie's NACKT, it's not a simple question to answer. Each of the attractive, sophisticated couples is at a different stage in their relationship and in a different economic situation. One has already split up, while the other two are headed in that direction. We are introduced to each couple as they talk with each other and prepare for a dinner party. The wealthiest and perhaps unhappiest couple is hosting the other two couples.

NAKED Soundtrack CD

It may not sound like a recipe for laughs, but this film is a lot of unexpected things, one of them being humor. Of course, you might expect humor from the director of the hit German comedy MÄNNER (1985), but not from a story of three unhappy couples.

I found myself alternately somber and laughing out loud during this entertaining German dialog fest. Surprisingly, since I knew that German film critics had generally panned NACKT. But that's because German film critics don't like “ein Happy-End” (that's German for “a happy ending”). But, as Dörrie herself explained in an après-film Q&A at the Berlin and Beyond film festival, her movie's ending isn't all that much of a happy ending. When all is said and done, the three couples may have some hope of staying together, but certainly no guarantee.

Before and during their dinner party the three couples talk about their relationships, hopes, fears, etc. But soon Mr. Wealthy suggests a party game, a sort of high-stakes strip poker wager based on the question, are partners interchangeable? Could you recognize your naked partner solely by touch while blindfolded? After chipping in their watches, jewelry, and credit cards, two sets of partners are put to the test, with the third couple acting as referees. While strangely amusing and touching to watch, the “game” is a recipe for disaster.

I won't reveal the outcome of the bet, but it's important to note that this is really not a film about nudity — except in a figurative sense. It's about relationships and truly getting in touch with one's partner and one's inner self. The people in “Nackt” strip away their usual psychological veneer to bare their souls to each other.

Doris Dörrie wrote the screenplay for her latest German comedy while she was living in Los Angeles with her young daughter. Based on the play “Happy,” her film asks what's really important in life. How do you make yourself and your partner really happy? You could start by taking him or her to this movie!

NAKED/NACKT
Written and directed by Doris Dörrie
Cast: Benno Fürmann (Felix), Nina Hoss (Charlotte), Mehmet Kurtulus (Dylan), Alexandra Maria Lara (Annette), Heike Makatsch (Emilia), Jürgen Vogel (Boris)

Also see > Grill Point (Halbe Treppe)

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