"Der Trinker" is a German(-language) film from 1995, so it has its 20th anniversary last year. Tom Toelle is one of writers here and he also directs. It is probably his second most famous work after "Das Millionenspiel". His co-writer here is the fairly famous Ulrich Plenzdorf and the duo adapted the novel by Hans Fallada of a severely alcohol-addicted man. The lead actor is Harald Juhnke and he is probably the best choice one could think of for the title character. Juhnke is known today for his films, but also for being an actor who had problem with alcohol abuse during his entire career. So you can even see this as an autobiographical work occasionally. It also makes it a bit tragic to know that the man we see in here did really destroy parts of his life the same way the main character does.
It is a television production that runs for approximately 95 minutes. I don't think I am familiar with any of the other actors in here, but maybe you are if you are really interested in German films. They're no big names though. I think this was a pretty good film. It felt very real and authentic in terms of the actions of the main character. I am talking about his lies, his promises to stop drinking and how a mix of alcohol and not trusting the right people gets him to almost kill his wife. There is no reason to the main character's actions when he is under the influence. And there are quite a few scenes that stay memorable. The relationship with the other woman also added a lot to the film I think, even if it did not look like it at all that they would start dating. The ending is very sad, but I think it is good the way it ended. It is not a sad ending for the thrills of it, but something that feels really realistic after he lost both women in his life and cannot admit to his wife how he hit rock-bottom when she tells him about her divorce plans. All in all, this film had only very few lengths, but several really strong highs that make up for the negative moments. And there aren't that many anyway, which is why I give it a thumbs-up. Go check it out. A very touching performance by Juhnke that somehow represents his career and life, the good and the bad.
It is a television production that runs for approximately 95 minutes. I don't think I am familiar with any of the other actors in here, but maybe you are if you are really interested in German films. They're no big names though. I think this was a pretty good film. It felt very real and authentic in terms of the actions of the main character. I am talking about his lies, his promises to stop drinking and how a mix of alcohol and not trusting the right people gets him to almost kill his wife. There is no reason to the main character's actions when he is under the influence. And there are quite a few scenes that stay memorable. The relationship with the other woman also added a lot to the film I think, even if it did not look like it at all that they would start dating. The ending is very sad, but I think it is good the way it ended. It is not a sad ending for the thrills of it, but something that feels really realistic after he lost both women in his life and cannot admit to his wife how he hit rock-bottom when she tells him about her divorce plans. All in all, this film had only very few lengths, but several really strong highs that make up for the negative moments. And there aren't that many anyway, which is why I give it a thumbs-up. Go check it out. A very touching performance by Juhnke that somehow represents his career and life, the good and the bad.