NEXT DOOR/NEBANEN

Germany, 2021, 92 minutes, Colour.

Daniel Bruehl, Peter Kurth, Rike Eckerman, Aenne Schwart, Gode Benedix, Vicki Krieps, Justine Hirschfeld.

Directed by Daniel Bruehl.

Nebanen/ Next Door is an unexpected cinema experience. It has been co-written, directed by, starring celebrated German and international actor, Daniel Bruehl.

In fact, the central character is called Daniel, has a German and Spanish background like the actor, has two children, and part of the dialogue has criticisms of his performance in a film about the Stasi (remembering Goodbye, Lenin) and discussions about superhero films, Bruehl having appeared in Captain America. The character has lived in Cologne but now lives in Berlin.

Most of the film takes place in a bar across the street from the apartment where the actor lives. The screenplay relies very much on dialogue, interactions, a touch of claustrophobia.

Basically, Daniel encounters a critical stranger in the bar who turns out to be his neighbour, from East Germany, his father having lived in the building and apartment since 1957 but ousted as East Germany became much more gentrified. The stranger, Bruno (Peter Kurth) is articulate, critical of Daniel and his performances, continually challenging him.

Daniel is about to go to London for a casting call for a superhero film and is quite anxious. As the interaction emerges, Bruno, who has overheard conversations, entered Daniel’s apartment and searched it, finding documents (shades of the Stasi) reveals that Daniel’s wife is having an affair with a director friend, then has Daniel’s tablet and the revelation that he has been watching a porn actress on his computer.

The dialogue is clever as well as being challenging, becoming more and more intense, Daniel becoming more frantic, the arrival of his wife… And, in the background, the bar keeper always attentive.

Certainly an interesting film in Daniel Bruehl’s career.

1. Daniel Bruehl, cowriting, director, star – and some parallels with his own life and career?
2. The title, the apartment block in Berlin, is history, East Berlin, occupants, reclaimed, gentrification, Daniel and his personal elevator? The other residents in the block?
3. The situation, Daniel as an actor, his career, Mindful and the television series, the casting in London, the superhero film (and Daniel Bruehl in Captain America), references to Goodbye, Lenin? His son? Relationship with his wife? The opening, exercise and rowing, shower, everything neat, preparing to go to London, the farewell, his wife in bed, leaving the house earlier, the nanny? The cab, his change of heart, going to the bar?
4. Most of the action taking place in the bar, confined, some moments outside? The reliance on dialogue? Theatrical?
5. Daniel, anticipation, nerves, the part, the audition, his page of script, the phone calls to find out more information, the final information coming during his personal crisis? In the bar, the drinks, Bruno on the beginnings of conversation, the bar keeper and her observations? The man at the table and his exclamations throughout?
6. The range of conversation with Bruno, the gradual explanations, Bruno and his motivations, his father in the apartment from 1957, ousted, living with Bruno, his death? Anger, revenge? The background of East Germany, Stasi methods, gathering intelligence, spying?
7. Bruno, beginning a conversation, criticising Daniel’s performance as an East German, Daniel’s reaction, interest, resistance, the further revelations about East Germany, the Stasi, Daniel’s other performances? The young boy, admiration, the autograph, Bruno giving him the box to deliver and the later consequences?
8. Daniel, smug and self-satisfied, listening to Bruno, the ups and downs of the conversation, the information about the apartment, ousting is, developments? Issues of career? Bruno reading the script with Daniel? Criticisms of contemporary film and television?
9. The gradual personal revelations, the fact that Bruno had been in the apartment, getting the documents, listening into conversations, checking phone records? The issue of the Beethoven film and Bruno commenting? The director, the insinuations about Daniel’s wife, times in Frankfurt, coincidences, the affair? Daniel and his upset? The turning of the tables, the information about the pornography, Denise, Daniel watching? The tablet, his ringing his wife, her secretary, her coming to the bar, the boy with the tablet? His wife having seen it? His adverse comments on her?
10. The continued delays about going to London, the taxi driver, the discussions about his wife, the revelation about Denise, the phone call with the information about his superhero character and his cutting it off?
11. The personality of the bartender, her observing, her name, calling him Squire? Incidental characters, the couple wanting a photo – for him to take it rather than with him? Autograph hunters?
12. The finale, the hand, each admitting their past, returning home?