Christian Petzold’s adaptation of “Transit”, a novel published in 1944, is all the more powerful for its ahistoricism
OF FILM-MAKERS working today, Christian Petzold is best placed to create a homage to “Casablanca”. In “Barbara” and “Phoenix” the German director considered love under fascism and his country’s complicated history. “Transit”, his latest film, is similar in tone to his previous work but bears clear traces of Michael Curtiz’s classic romantic drama, too. Like “Casablanca”, it is set in a port city where civilians await passage to escape an occupying force.
Based on a novel by Anna Seghers published in 1944, “Transit” boldly transfers the plot from Nazi-occupied France to the modern day. It centres upon Georg , a Parisian who has escaped imprisonment. He agrees to deliver two letters to Weidel, a writer in hiding. One is from his wife, begging him to come to Marseilles, where she has arranged a one-way trip to Mexico; the other is from the Mexican consulate, confirming his exit visa.
Unlike the coiffed and glamorous figures in “Casablanca”, the characters in “Transit” are visibly harrowed by their experiences living under an oppressive regime; there is talk of concentration camps and an impending military operation known ominously as “the spring cleaning”. Their faces are grave and weary: Mr Rogowski has the crooked visage of an aging prizefighter, Ms Beer has a fragile beauty.
It is a rich and complex love story crafted by an emerging master. In previous films, Mr Petzold has demonstrated a light touch: his camera barely moved, and he allowed his actors to shoulder the burden of the narrative, rarely accentuating their work with cinematic flourishes such as flashbacks or showy editing. Here he magnifies his characters’ predicament.
The director’s most unusual choice was his ahistorical approach. The exact era in which “Transit” takes place is never specified: the architecture and cars are modern, but there are no mobile phones, and the characters seek passage on a ship, not a plane. But the effect is compelling rather than jarring or heavy-handed. It shows, as “Casablanca” did, that those living under oppressive regimes may grapple with love and loss as well as the question of survival.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
A number of films broach the subject of faith in the 21st centuryThe conflict between ancient dogma and contemporary values underpins a number of intriguing dramas
Read more »
21st Century Fox Takeover: Are Investors At Risk Of A No Deal Disney?A race against time is now in play as 21st Century Fox’s merger with Disney is facing delays and a potential deal breaker. Mexican courts now hold the power in one of the biggest deals in US history amid diplomatic tensions surrounding the controversial border 'wall'.
Read more »
Arbitrator Finds 21st Century Fox Defrauded Producers of Crime Drama ‘Bones’An arbitrator found 21st Century Fox defrauded producers and actors of the television series “Bones” and awarded close to $180 million in damages, in connection with distribution deals with Fox and Hulu.
Read more »
Orchestral music is thriving in a rock’n’roll cityLast year the Cleveland Orchestra raised almost $25m; it has managed more than $20m for the past five years
Read more »
Brazil approves Disney's purchase of Fox assets, paving the way for the deal to closeBrazil’s regulatory agency Cade on Wednesday approved Disney’s $71.3 billion deal, removing a lingering obstacle to finalize the acquisition.
Read more »
'Bones' stars Emily Deschanel, David Boreanaz win $179M dispute against Fox over profitsBoreanaz and Deschanel, the stars of Bones in its run from 2005 through 2017, sued 21st Century Fox in 2015, saying it denied them profits by licensing the show to Fox's TV division and to Hulu for below-market rates.
Read more »
The biggest winner at the 91st Academy Awards was DisneyDisney hauled in four Oscar wins on Sunday. While it was a good showing for the House of Mouse, the real bonus will come from its $71.3 billion acquisition of 21st Century Fox.
Read more »
21st Century Fox Takeover: Are Investors At Risk Of A No Deal Disney?A race against time is now in play as 21st Century Fox’s merger with Disney is facing delays and a potential deal breaker. Mexican courts now hold the power in one of the biggest deals in US history amid diplomatic tensions surrounding the controversial border 'wall'.
Read more »