WOLKE 9 (CLOUD 9)

Germany, 2008, 96 minutes, Colour.
Ursula Werner, Horst Rehberg, Horst Westphal.
Directed by Andreas Dresen.

Every cloud allegedly has a silver lining. The cloud in the title of this German film does not. For a time, Inge (Ursula Werner), a sixty-plus housewife who mends clothes at home, sings in a choir and, with her husband, minds her daughters children at times, experiences some cloud nine bliss. One of the questions the film raises is: at what cost?

However, most of the reviews use their space to comment on how a young director has looked at ageing people and their sexual relationships both in marriage and extra-maritally, portraying these relationships in the same way that he would for younger men and women. This is certainly the case. But, in looking at older people, two of whom have lived thirty years of marriage, means we see people who have had long experience, both of happiness and some unhappiness and who have to draw on this experience to assess what is happening to them.

In portraying older people and a woman beginning an affair with a man in his seventies, the three actors concerned perform with unflinching candour. The director wisely shows the more explicit sequences, with frank nudity, early in the film so that this is not a distraction when we have to consider the emotional effects on each of the characters as well as the moral choices (or lack of choices and a relying on the ‘argument’ that ‘this just happened and I didn’t want it to happen’).

The acting is very strong and convincing. An older audience would relate better to the film and its issues. The generation younger might be somewhat shocked and puzzled. And it is all something that the younger generations may not have thought about at all.

To cap it all – and, certainly, not to make the resolution too easy – there is a grim ending that demands reflection from the audience.

1.The intention of the young film-maker, a film about age, life, sexuality?

1.The German town, the countryside, the views from the train, the river and the swimming? The interiors of the apartments? The choir, their songs, as a chorus, with lyrics for the action?

2.The title, the irony – and Inge having to come down from Cloud 9?

3.The introduction to Inge, sewing at home, delivering the trousers, the interaction with Karl, the sexual encounter, the beginning of the affair, returning to Karl, the apartment, going swimming? With Werner, her ordinary life? Laughing and giggling at rude jokes? His rude puzzle? Not telling him the truth?

4.The frankness in the nudity and sexuality? Placed early in the film – and then the serious themes being able to develop?

5.Inge and Werner together, coming home from the funeral, details of life at home, the bath, meals, talking, in bed? The visit of Petra and looking after her children?

6.Inge continuing the affair, going out, the swimming, with Karl, his age, seventy-six? The discussions about age?

7.Her confiding in Petra? Petra’s complicity and encouraging her mother, not to tell Werner?

8.Inge’s hesitation, then Werner told off-screen? His reaction, feeling lost, angry, hurt, his attack? Inge not wanting him to be mean? Defending herself? Defensive? Saying she did not want this to happen, saying that it did happen? That she wished it hadn’t happened?

9.The issue of responsibility, her not accepting the responsibility, going to Karl?

10.The party, their singing together – then their separation?

11.The separation, Inge’s move, Werner calmer, the thirty years of marriage, his being a father to Petra, his being left alone, what did he do to deserve this?

12.Inge with Karl, the night phone call, her grief and reaction? Blaming herself?

13.The funeral, the people grieving with her, Petra?

14.The aftermath, did she accept her responsibility? Going back to Karl and weeping?