Review
The Princess and the Warrior
- Director
- Tom Tykwer
- Year
- 2000
- Rating
- Reviewed by
- a.k.a. Jacinda
- Review date
- Sunday, October 29, 2000
Franka Potente (she also played Lola) stars as Sissi, a woman who is living inside a psychiatry as one of the caretakers. Benno Fürmann portrays Bodo, a man who lives in his own secluded world since the death of his girlfriend. The two characters meet under weird circumstances when Bodo saves Sissi's life. She decides to search for Bodo in order to rescue him and to find true love. The two characters have to go through a lot before they can find themselves individually as well as each other.
While Sissi seems outerworldly, Bodo is portrayed in a very sensitive but also masculine way. Potente´s and Fürmann´s performances can only be called outstanding. The movie also features an amazing supporting cast (especially Joachim Król).
Besides this the visuals of the movie are stunning. I was totally overwhelmed by some scenes and the way they were filmed. Some pictures will remain unforgettable. I can't really tell why this movie touched me so deeply. With some movies I can't really explain it. It deals with essential feelings: the process of finding yourself, love and humanity. I can only say it was an overwhelming experience to watch these amazing shots combined with the great score by Pale 3.
I would even go as far as to say it has been the best movie I've watched this year. I wonder why this movie wasn't in competition at the Venice Film Festival. It should have won all awards for being a masterpiece.
If you ever have the chance to see this one, go for it Grouch!
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Comments
Morris wrote at 6/22/2002:
I forgot to mention I also love the way Twyker plays with symbolisms. They way Bodo kept crying all the time was simply genius for my taste. SPecially after something quite interesting happens in the ends which could be interpreted in many different ways. Overall a fantastic movie!New comments are temporarily disabled
Morris wrote at 6/22/2002:
I just have to agree with everything Jacinda says about this movie. It certainly is a work of art. I was totally shocked to find a movie by the same director but that couldn't be more different. This one is more profound, deep and it definitely is slower (if at times a little too slow for my taste).I just loved the whole concept of this unusal love story. I love rare and unique stuff and this movie did it for me. It was as unpredictable as anything I've seen this year and it certainly is one of the most visually stunning as well. It's amazing how Tom, the director, manages to impress even in the most simple situations. After all this is a movie about people and yet he finds the right place to do the most extraordinary of things. An example of this might be the brilliant way he presents his central characters for the first time to us.
I also liked the way the movie played with concepts such as hope, destiny, fate, madness, pain and, of course, love. For Twyker life is kind of a cicle and both Sissi and Bodo find themselved in situations that prove this theory to be right.
Also, Franka is extraordinary. I love this actress. She's so good and charismatic and talented. Special mention should also go to Benno Fürmann, an actor who reminded me a lot of Gael García (of "Amores Perros" fame), because of the way they both have such expressive eyes. His character is somewhat more difficult because he can be an animal at times yet you like him because of the tenderness he shows underneath. Brilliant.
All in all, a must-see.