THE TOBACCONIST
Austria/Germany, 2018, 117 minutes, Colour.
Simon Morze, Bruno Gans, Johannes Krisch, Emma Dragunova.
Directed by Nikolaus Leytner.
There have been many stories of Austria during the 1930s, life in the Austrian countryside, moves to the city of Vienna, the increasing anti-Semitism, the presence of the Nazis and their finally entering into Austria.
One of the differences with this film is that a central character is Sigmund Freud, played by the veteran German actor, Bruno Ganz, one of his last roles.
Simon Morza plays Frantz, a young man who has to leave his mother and their farm to go to work in the city, getting a job as an assistant to a tobacconist. The tobacconist, a veteran of World War I, with strong patriotic but leftist views, becomes the target of anti-Semitic prejudice. This opens up the reality of Vienna in the 1930s to the young man.
The film recreates the atmosphere of the city, especially the market, the clubs, with Frantz encountering a Slovakian refugee, becoming infatuated with her, tracking her down, finding out that she is a prostitute who also works in a cabaret.
Because Sigmund Freud is one of the customers of the tobacconist, and Frantz befriends him and vice versa, he asks Freud for his advice, and he advises him to write down his dreams, Freud offering him some leads to understand himself and his infatuation.
The film builds to a climax with attacks on the Jews, the arrest of the tobacconist and his death, Freud and his family moving to London.
1. A story of pre-World War II, Austria, the countryside, the cities, the persecution of the Jews? Sympathy for the Nazis? The takeover?
2. The country settings, the farm, life in the country? The transition to the city? The streets, the tobacconist shop, homes, clubs, workplaces? The musical score?
3. The story of Frantz? Life in the country, with his mother, an ordinary life, his having to move to the city, wary? The reference to Otto? Going to the shop, interactions with Otto, Otto’s political stances? The anti-Semitic atmosphere? Frantz observing it? Customers, passers-by, the demonstrations, prejudice? Frantz and the accommodation? Meeting people, the customers, the range of people, society? His finding a place in the city?
4. The character of Sigmund Freud, customer in the shop, living in Vienna, his family, his reputation and career? The cigars and his friendship with Otto, with Frantz? Frantz discussing his life with Freud, the background of psychoanalysis, Freud and his advice, putting his finger on the emotional situation? Telling Frantz to record his dreams? The impact of the dreams?
5. Frantz, at the market, enjoying the vitality, with people, the meeting with Anezka, her friendliness, sharing the beer? The mystery about her? His becoming infatuated, thinking about her, seeking her out, paying the man at the bar for her address? Finding her, her occupation, her background from Slovakia, surviving? Her leading him on? The exhilaration of the sexual encounter and playing naked in the rain? The encounters, the effect on him, talking to Freud?
6. The club, the performance, Anezka with the other men, her treatment of Frantz?
7. Otto, his character, running the shop, Frantz’s apprentice, learning the trade? The experience of world War I, losing his leg, patriotism, the arrest, the humiliation, his death? Otto and his political views? The customers in the shop? The leftist discussions, propaganda? The man on the building, throwing himself over – and the police miss reporting of the event?
8. Freud and his family, their wanting him to transfer to London, Frantz waiting outside, his being invited in, the discussions with Freud, Freud leaving?
9. The portrait of Frantz, a young man, transition from country to city, learning the ways of the city, his Infatuations, sexuality and emotions, the help of the psychiatrist? His future?
