"The Toilers and the Wayfarers" is almost classically "indie" -- shot in grainy black-and-white (perfectly appropriate for its subject matter), set primarily in an obscure milieu (the German-American community in New Ulm, Minnesota) and populated by a cast of complete unknowns. There are moments of almost comic amateurism (would anyone *not* notice Udo's absurd "disguise" when he and Dieter are on the lam?) and gaps in the narrative that prompt you to speculate if writer/director Keith Froelich was simply running out of money. There are also fine moments that make you feel you are watching a particularly absorbing documentary.
The whole effect of the movie is knocked rather pleasantly askew by the casting of Matt Klemp in the starring role of Dieter. He is so movie-star beautiful that it can be a tad distracting (especially in view of how much of his body is frequently on display) and his performance gets off to a rather tentative start. More convincing, initially, are Andrew Woodhouse as the more self-aware Phillip and Ralf Schrig as the conniving Udo. But Klemp slowly comes into his own over the course of the film, charting a fall from innocence that is heartbreaking to watch (note, and possible spoiler: the trailers make this movie seem much more upbeat than it is). By the end Dieter quite literally looks older, sadder and wiser -- credit to Klemp, and to Froelich. Worth seeing, and I hope those involved with this project get more work in movies.
The whole effect of the movie is knocked rather pleasantly askew by the casting of Matt Klemp in the starring role of Dieter. He is so movie-star beautiful that it can be a tad distracting (especially in view of how much of his body is frequently on display) and his performance gets off to a rather tentative start. More convincing, initially, are Andrew Woodhouse as the more self-aware Phillip and Ralf Schrig as the conniving Udo. But Klemp slowly comes into his own over the course of the film, charting a fall from innocence that is heartbreaking to watch (note, and possible spoiler: the trailers make this movie seem much more upbeat than it is). By the end Dieter quite literally looks older, sadder and wiser -- credit to Klemp, and to Froelich. Worth seeing, and I hope those involved with this project get more work in movies.