User Reviews

Sommersturm (Summer Storm) is about Tobi and Achim who have been best friends for years. As cox and oarsman, they have helped their team win several rowing cups in the past and are now looking forward to the big regatta in the countryside. But this trip is no summer camp, and the problems soon arise. As Achim's relationship with his girlfriend grows more serious, Tobi starts to realise that his feelings for Achim run deeper than he's willing to admit to himself. He feels confused, unsure of himself and increasingly left out. When the much-anticipated Berlin girls' team is being replaced by a team of athletic,young gay men, Tobi and his teammates are suddenly forced to grapple with their prejudices, fears and perhaps their hidden longings. As the tension grows, Tobi, Achim and the others head towards a confrontation as fierce and ultimately as liberating as the summer storm gathering over the lake...

"Summer Storm" is an emotionally mature and honest film which deals with the issue of coming out with humour, sensitivity and understanding. The performances are excellent, with the actors and actresses tending to underplay emotions rather than hamfisting them home, which tends to happen in American teen dramas. The performance by the award winning Robert Stadlober (Best Leading Actor at the Montreal Film Festival, 2001) was particularly standout. All characters are identifiable and likable, and although some characters verge on the cliché, clichés are clichés because they originated in truth.

Director, Marco Kreuzpaintner and cinematographer Daniel Gottschalk make the landscape lush, tranquil, yet with a strong sense of isolation, loneliness and foreboding. Visual metaphors are seamlessly woven into the films narrative without becoming too cliché or distracting.

The film is un-hyperbolic in its treatment of the familiar themes of coming of age, the search for identity, friendship and sexuality (both homosexuality and heterosexuality). Sommersturm is a beautiful, moving and honest film.

First of all, it's incredible that a movie about a summer camp would come out that has a group of teenagers acting like REAL teens, not the idiots you see either in gross-out summer comedies based solely on bathroom and bodily-fluid humor, or with a dozen or more skeevy slackers getting high, getting laid and then getting hacked to bits by some guy in a mask bought from Chammps Sporting Goods.

Viewed at the same Gay Pride Film Festival here in D.C., it was a good opportunity to compare this--a little more serious coming-of-age drama, to the light and fluffy French sex romp "Cote d'Azure." Too bad something like SUMMER STORM isn't made more often here in the States.

It's summer time, and Tobi (the engaging Robert Stadlober) is in a seething state of sexual confusion. He wants to have sex with a girl, but his strongest feelings are reserved for his best bud Achim, (Kostja Ullmann), who in turn is having a hot-and-heavy romance with girlfriend Sandra (Miriam Morgenstern). Meantime, carrying the torch for Tobi is the heartbreakingly beautiful Anke (Alicja Batchleda-Curus), who has absolutely no idea where her intended's head is at. At least, not at first.

The four teens are all on rowing teams, and their coach takes them all to camp, to bond and train for the seasonal rowing trials. Among the rival teams is an all-gay team, the "Queerstrokers," who will soon prove instrumental in the awakening of Tobi, helping him realize who he is and eventually to reconcile the lopsided love triangle he is involved in, which can only produce consequences destined to bring about an unhappy ending.

Not to make the film sound too serious, but it deals with the themes of sexual confusion, exploration and discovery in a natural and non-judgmental way that is so lacking in most American features of this genre. The casting of the actors is just about perfect, as they all look, sound and perform like you would imagine German teens would, who are not that much different from any other young people their age anywhere in the world.

Even if the audience of SUMMER STORM isn't gay, it deals effectively with the kind of emotions and situations that all adults can relate to, back when they were younger, and kids who are the same age as the film's characters can identify with now.

A well-made coming-of-age tale for everyone (except for conservative prudes and pre-teens), definitely worth your time.

I have seen many German films already, but this one beats them all! It's beautiful, it's sad, it's funny, it's tragic, it's warm, sunny and lovely. Just wonderful and a pleasure to watch.

The plot can be told very quickly: Tobi and Achim live in a Bavarian village, are the best of friends and also together in a rowing team. But Tobi has a secret: He is in love with Achim, doesn't dare to tell him of course and is jealous of Sandra, Achim's girlfriend. When Tobi, Achim and their team travel to a competition (which at the same time is a camp) and meet a gay rowing team there, the emotions boil over and soon Tobi has to face the truth and find out who he is.

To sum it up: This film is a masterpiece and in my opinion should be officially one of the best films of all times. It is filmed in a very quiet way, with calm shots of nature, of teenagers, their dreams, fears and emotions, but also their conflicts. It takes teenagers seriously without being too serious and deals with homosexuality, coming out and coming of age without drowning in clichés. Plus it has some hilarious comic situations and great one liners in it. One could say: The movie shows pure life, for life is sometimes fun, sometimes tragic, sometimes beautiful and sometimes hard. Also everyone, from the protagonists to minor characters is casted perfectly and you have some of the most talented young German actors of our time here: Robert Stadlober, Marlon Kittel, and Hanno Koffler. "Sommersturm" – a terrific piece of art that you can't help falling in love with.

Two best friends go on a summer-camp. One of them, Tobi is in love with his friend and cannot stand him having a girlfriend. When a gay rowing-team arrives, the storm begins...

The movie is very touching, but a bit predictable. It does succeed in showing all the factors that come in to play, when someone 'comes out'. Moreover, the characters are mostly very likable.

It's a good movie that shows you gay boys, straight boys and girls, the prejudices about gayness, and just a feel good movie in the end. A must for young people and their parents as an educational movie.

p.s. The curly boy was nice as well.

SommerStrum – SUMMERSTORM – CATCH IT ( B+ ) SommerStrum is very heartwarming German movie, which avoids the general clichés of Camp movies. It's a simple story about a boy trying to figure out what he exactly wants is quite endearing. I love the way whole movie progresses and the humor quotient and good characterization makes it really captivating. Robert Stadlober is good, he was as convincing as mean jealous friend and as Caring loving friend too. Kostja Ullmann is gorgeous, no wonder Robert Stadlober fall in love with him. The chemistry between these two is really good. Alicja Bachleda is really gorgeous and her emotional range in performance can be seen in the movie. I have seen her in "Ondine" as well where she was mesmerizing. Miriam Morgenstern did her part really well. All the other young cast was also did their part really well and brought the humor and fun into the movie. Overall, its really enjoyable, real and inspiring movie about something feeling Different. I loved every moment of the movie. Must Watch it!

I had the opportunity to watch SOMMERSTURM at the Rio Movie Festival two weeks ago - with the presence of director Marco Kreuzpaintner - and everyone just loved the movie! It was a big, big success here in Rio, not only for the gay crowd but specially for the straight crowd ! It's a very funny, sexy, artistic and young (but still mature) movie, that perfectly shows the process of discovery of sexuality, with all the good and bad aspects of it. It portraits gay and straight boys and girls naturally, just as they are and the interesting (and incredibly funny) interaction between them. Robert Stadlober is in great shape acting, as well as the whole of the cast. And the soundtrack couldn't be better, both in the happy times and the sad ones!

SOMMERSTURM is the kind of movie that everyone - and I mean everyone (except for small children) - should watch, not only because it's a wonderful movie and great fun, but specially because it treats the subject of homosexuality in a natural, sensible and incredibly mature manner. For those who still have some prejudice towards different sexual orientations, it's a soft learning lesson... Congratulations to the film team!

Summer Storm is a slightly above average gay-teen/coming of age drama from Germany that brings to mind elements of both 'Y Tu Mama Tambien' and 'Beautiful Thing'.

It is the oft-told tale of best friends whose friendship is tested when one of the boys finds that his feelings go beyond the need for an occasional manly hug and a bit of horseplay.

It is good-natured and well acted but would have benefited from a far wittier script as much of the humour falls flat. Certainly, the script doesn't compare favourably to Johnathan Harvey's terrific script for 'Beautiful Thing'

But despite it's flaws 'Summer Storm' is a very watchable film with enough dramatic incident and characterisation to keep me engrossed

Summer Storm is a remarkably sensitive and entertaining film, a drama about sexual orientation with stellar acting, plenty of comic relief, and the touching moments that make this movie worth a second or third visit. Within minutes, I was captivated by the main characters, reliving my own doubts in those beautiful days between high school and reality.

Those looking for an erotic homosexual expose of yet another ''coming out'' will probably be disappointed. The interaction of the sexes is both subtle and natural, damn normal, as it should be. Few films let you forget your own sexual orientation and draw you into the scene through the sheer power of love and affection. The tears, joys and pain of youth are vividly painted on a backdrop of beautifully photographed scenes that are both authentically modern and nostalgically overpowering. These are the friends you want to meet on your next canoe trip or wished you had met at summer camp 40 years ago.

Summer Storm is perhaps the best German film in decades, a quiet film that steals your heart. American audiences have had to wait a bit longer to finally see it. In Germany, the film was rated PG-12. The US version is rated R. That says something about the progress (or lack of) in dealing with films that address sexuality. US audiences can deal with ''Sex and the City'' and ''Six Feet Under'' but don't dare let our kids see a movie that might help them find their sexual identity. Personally, I can't think of a better film as an introduction to sex education, in grade school. I highly recommend watching the film with your teen-aged son or daughter. They can explain the parts you didn't quite catch.

today "sommersturm" is coming out on DVD in Germany, i already ordered it on amazon.de and have been in cinema two times. the movie is about a 18year-old boy who begins to feel for his best friend, who is already having a relationship to a girl. they are all in a boat team and go for a championship (the filming locations are in my town so its cool to see). in the camp the feelings of the actors are "coming out". before seeing it i could not imagine that this movie would feel so real an touch so much. but it is the working of the great actors, a beautiful soundtrack, very good camera and s strong story. the camera work supports the story in so many ways, the picture you see tells so much. but the movie is not only touching, its also extremely funny, but not in the way that its make fun of gay people, its understanding so its still touching. i cant wait to see this movie again. sad that only a few saw it, believe me, its one of the funniest, most touching and best filmed German movies. nothing else than 10/10

This review contains spoilers.

I watched this film years ago and just a couple days ago. While I agree with much of the glowing reviews (the photography, the natural, generally undramatic realistic interaction between characters, budding romances etc.) there is a mean streak in here, as well as several instances where some are being extremely inconsiderate. I'm not exactly sure how old these people are supposed to be, but they seem like very late high school or early college? Tobi, the rejected Gay lover, just doesn't get it that Achim is straight. Achim talks about girls, about having a problem if a Gay guy liked him, on and on and still almost to the end, Tobi doesn't get it. Meanwhile, Leo likes him, and is very tender with him several times, Tobi injures Leo's arm (unintentionally) still Leo can't participate in the competition, something they presumably train their whole lives for. Tobi doesn't even apologize! Come on! This is the perfect, tender romance of the century movie? What about the part where Tobi tells Sandra to not withhold sex because of her small bosom (something boyfriend Achim told Tobi in confidence) Yes, "kids" and adults are mean, but I'm not the one saying this is such a gentle love story. It is downright harsh in places. To say What he did to Sandra, Tobi is a selfish little twit. (And stupid too, if he thought Achim wouldn't be furious about it or that Achim would stop loving Sandra? Even if Tobi is naive about homosexuality, he must know that male/female is the majority). Oh, and I know that Tobi was fixated on Achim so Leo was probably just a diversion. It is easy to get the impression I hated this movie, I didn't. I just wrote this review as a counterbalance to the excessive number of reviews purporting this movie to be perfect. I'm aware that people can be mean, and there are plenty of immature adults around. But I think for some of the dumb sh*t Tobi pulled, he needed his a** kicked. As a Gay man myself, I can understand how difficult it is to come out but this never is an excuse to be cruel and inconsiderate to others.

A wonderful movie, being gay myself I really saw myself in the protagonist. It's been a long time that I have seen a German film, that is so authentic and honest, really it was nearly like a documentary, you really feel like being there as well.

It's one of the rare film in which everything fits together, the acting, the music, the dramatic art, the fun, the dialogs.

The acting is outstanding. Robert Stadlober is so convincing. You really can feel it when he's desperate or angry.

The music was touching and moving, there are wonderful scenes when the camera floats over the lake while it rains and this wonderful sad classical music is played. So beautiful...

I think the director did a wonderful job, he - being gay and young himself - of course also knew what it's like growing up and discovering your homosexuality as Tobi does.

Clichés and stereotypes are discussed by the actors themselves. :-)

For gay people it's a must as everyone surely can partly see oneself in Tobi and for straight people it's a great chance to broaden their horizons as they can learn about the difficulty of growing up while being "different".

It's a real honest film.

Go and see it! It's 10/10 from me!

Nevermind that this is a movie about same-sex adulation. The bittersweet movie features a stellar performance by its lead Robert Stadlober as Tobi and explores his road to self-discovery and identity through his long-standing secret admiration and love for his best pal, Achim. The dilemma that Tobi faced in trying to come to terms with his own sexuality is well-handled by Stadlober.

Set against a rowing competition camp trip, the movie isn't always hardhearted but offers some comedy along the way. Some moviegoers might have complained about the stereotypical gay characters in the movie, but actually, it's quite the opposite. There is a good mix of gay characters and contrast is definitely showcased. The cinematography is also splendid.

Tobi, a teenager in a rowing team, is about to discover his latent homosexuality and his love for his close friend Achim, during a rowing contest, under the catalytic presence of a gay rowing group from Berlin.

Although the film borrows many plot elements from movies like "Was nutzt die Liebe in Gedanken" and "Krampack" (i.e. boy loves boy who loves girls) it copes with creating an exceptional coming-out film composition. The admixtures of German eastern and southern dialects and accents, the comic characters like the coach, the simple humorous stereotypes resulting from clueless-Oberbayern meeting Gay-Berlin and finally the summer storm of sexual consciousness forcing Tobi and the groups of teenagers to seek new balances, create a unique and simple German version of these topics.

As remarks could be mentioned that too much of accents is not as funny for us foreigners, the end is relatively open and the main character depicts sometimes too selfish and ignorant.

Film is Excellent - 10 of 10.

Strange film grace of his original beauty. The essence is self-discover of a teenager but, not his obsessive love for his friend, the ambiguity of feelings, the moral end or the fight with himself, the contact with the "others" are important . The essence is the splendid art to tell, in honest way, with delicate images and ordinary scenes the evolution of a crisis, the gestures of a age, the love as miracle, the fixation and desire of an outsider for who his self-image and the opinion of friends is the fundamental punishment.

To be yourself like horrible sin.

It is not a original story but this film is great for the subtle science to discover, without pity, compassion or masks a real slice of existence.

The love for an Achim or the desire for be normal in a homophobic society are not only artistic themes and the message of film is, in fact, to be a model to self definition, a subject to meditation, a point to search of truth against others, against yourself.

Only, the commercial happy-end. The shadows are not a so short life. But, the intentions , the honesty of work, the game with lights and the good interpretation are more important.

Sommersturm, titled "Summer Storm" in English, is a coming-of-age story about unrequited gay love and the difficult coming out process.

The movie is well-acted and the cinematography is very good; unfortunately, the script is full of tired clichés, misguided pathos, and weak attempts at comedy. In addition, the film is not helped by an insipid soundtrack and the fact that story drags on far too long. There are several moments during the film's last half-hour where it appears to have come to an ending before inexplicably going on.

The story is very simple: Tobi and Achim are best friends who are in their mid-teens. The inseparable pair belong to a local Bavarian youth crew team. The story picks up shortly before Tobi and Achim leave with their crew mates to join other regional crew teams at a summer camp to train for a large crew meet to be held at the end of the season. Shortly before the two leave for the summer camp, Tobi begins to realize his romantic feelings for Achim. Tobi's situation is complicated by the fact that just before their departure for summer camp Achim begins a romance with a lovely young lady, Sandra, who is a member of a women's crew team also going to the summer camp. In addition, Sandra's best friend Anke falls hard for Tobi and is determined to seduce him. At the summer camp, Tobi becomes increasingly distressed as he sees his friendship with Achim become displaced by the budding romance between Achim and Sanra. His distress over seeing Achim slip away makes leads to Tobi to act out his anger which causes a bitter rift with Achim. Meanwhile, an "out-and-proud" gay crew team, called "Queer Strokes" shows up at the summer camp, and their presence leads to events which force Tobi to come to terms with his homosexuality and his love for Achim.

It is certainly possible for a coming out story to be done well, but Summer Storm ends up telling a very formulaic and trite tale which resorts to shameless melodrama and sophomoric teen sex humor in an attempt to spice up an otherwise flat and lifeless story. The movie is not helped by the fact that it is uncertain in its direction; it capriciously bounces back and forth between frivolous and lame teen sex comedy and cringe-inducing heavy gay angst-filled drama. Moreover, in the film's narrow and patronizing perspective on the coming out process makes it hard for the audience to connect with the film's protagonist. Tobi's difficult struggle to come to terms with his sexual identity and his unrequited love for his best friend should elicit sympathy from the viewer, but instead his journey of self-discovery is handled with such a sappy and despairing tone that the viewer soon develops the urge to yank him a side, slap him, and shout in Moonstruck-fashion "Snap out of it!" At the much overdue ending of the film, Tobi finally learns to accept himself and he does find happiness, but by the time the screen writer slaps on the saccharin ending the viewer no longer cares much about Tobi or any of the other characters in the film.

In the end, Summer Storm simply comes up short. It is not very touching or funny. Also, for those who care about such things, I would note that the film is also not very sexy. Viewers interested in seeing a sweet and sentimental coming out story would do better to rent "Beautiful Thing." As for viewers wanting to see something steamy, they will be sorely disappointed and should go see another film. Despite a few scenes of hunky shirtless guys, the movie is definitely not titillating; by the time the first of two tepid love scenes rolls around, any viewer hoping to see some hot action will have long ago left the room.

Being German I really appreciate the authenticity of the movie. Given the fact that director Marco Kreuzpaintner was in his late 20s when he wrote the script and that it was nearly autobiographical, the story takes place in the early 1990s when he was 17-18 years old, and everything from the worn 1970s bus they use for their journey in the beginning to the lack of cell-phones (no way for a teenager to hide in the forest nowadays - just call him and the ringing will tell you which tree he sits on ;) !!) exactly fits into this period of time. It was also the early 1990 when more and more exclusively gay-lesbian sports-clubs occurred in the bigger cities over here (for soccer, scuba-diving, rowing, etc.), and they almost always use some kind of a pun for their names("Vorspiel" (foreplay), "Gaysha" (Karate)), to name a few), just like Queerschlag did, which exists in reality to this very day. On that background, my reception of the movie is that it is more about Tobi's love for Achim than about his coming out. Tobi has fallen in love with his best friend, and that is something that is happening to young gays all the time. It is a very painful process when you have to realize that your mate, who shared his time and feelings with you for years and years, other than yourself will not be able to turn that friendship into love and sexual tenderness. Tobi's coming out at the end is only the result of the fact that he learned that Achim will never be able to love him the way he does and that he has to accept this. So after all this movie is both about accepting heterosexual and homosexual love. By the way, as some of the posters here misunderstood, the "lake" were the story takes place is in fact a 100+ years old reservoir (thats why you see the sandy banks in summer), and it is not in Bavaria, but in an area called "Bergisches Land" a few hundred miles north of Bavaria (if you want to find it in Google Earth, search for "Wipperfürth").

This is by far one of these best gay-themed films I have seen since "Beautiful Thing" (released in 1996) - and one of the best films (of any kind) that I have watched since "Crash".

You will laugh out loud, and cry as you feel the agony Tobi endures while coming to terms with his sexuality. Tobi (played flawlessly by Robert Stadlober) is the leader of his rowing team, and looked up to by his teammates for leadership. When his team is up against another rowing team comprised of an all-gay team, his inner feelings are realized. Tobi deals with his feelings and love for his best friend Achim, and eventually deals with the complications of coming out to him. All the while dealing with confused emotions for his girlfriend and a new boy he meets on the opposing team.

The film is genuine, well-directed, well-acted and goes head-on with the painful emotions most younger people must face when trying to understand their sexuality. THIS STORY IS REAL! And proves once again that we truly cannot help who we fall in love with. Love is about following your heart - it's about people, not the sex of the individual's involved.

The movie hails from Germany, and is in German with English subtitles. Even with having to read the film to understand it, the talent of the young actors shines through.

Not only was I impressed by the story, even the movies scenes and settings were delightful. Kudos to here! Films, Genius Products and Liberation Entertainment for producing this movie. It's a shame Hollywood USA can't (or doesn't have the courage) to produce this quality and style of film.

It has been half a year since I've seen the movie but I am still convinced that it is certainly as good as 'Beautiful Thing', that other iconic feel-good movie.

Let's start with some criticism: the discussion among the teammates from the QueerSchlag, the gay rowing team, about clichés is a cliché in itself. It seems like every self-respecting gay-themed movie has to criticize the clichés (feminism, sex-addiction, masculinity...). Marlon Kitel, who plays the sensitive Leo, sees his character reduced to being the politically correct gay. But how I loved that character

The good news is that this was the only thing that bothered me in this film. The best news is that the actors are great, not only are they stunningly beautiful and skilled in their acting, I didn't get shivers from the German they were using. Which is a rare thing :-)

The imagery is enchanting, naturalistic. Of course, the lake takes the credits for that. The music fits in nicely, although you might call "Go West" 'over the top'.

The story is definitely a positive one, although it is positive in shades. It shows some of the darker sides of the coming of age of a Gay teen, dreams are shattered, new hopes and fears are displayed without being explicitly mentioned. You have to chew some of the material yourself, which is good... at least it keeps you busy once you've seen the movie.

I saw it twice and am eagerly awaiting to get my hands on a DVD (sold out already here) to have a third and possible fourth screening. It is one of those films that makes you soft in the end. Food for the soul. Soulfood.

This film immediately vaulted itself into the very top of my favorite gay-themed movies list after only one viewing. It's simply terrific, offering humor and heartache in equal servings. The acting from all the characters is brilliant, and like other viewers, I particularly liked the subtle and sensitive performance of Marlon Kittel in the role of Leo, as well as Alicja Bachleda-Curus's performance as Anke. I wish that the U.S. had the depth or courage to produce films like this. It seems most of my favorite gay-themed movies are foreign films. Others have gone into all the plot points and developments, so I won't rehash them, but I will touch on one thing I loved, and a couple of other viewers noted it as well... There is a lengthy scene late in the movie (chapter 17 on the DVD to be exact) that, for nearly two dialog-free minutes, allows the camera to fade in and out of varying scenes, from the introspective despair of Achim, lying by his girlfriend and obviously hurting over the loss of his best friend Tobi, to a series of scenes of the lake and the land in a rainstorm. Each of these scenes has a single focal point, whether a ball floating on the lake or a ladder on the side of a dock... it's a stunning montage from a cinematography standpoint, and the whole scene is accompanied by an incredibly beautiful, haunting melody on a cello. It's perfect, and I could have easily watched this scene in rapt attention had it carried on for another couple of minutes.

This film is about two best friends in a rowing team going to train for a competition. They are faced with dramatic challenges and transformations, which changes their lives forever.

"Sommersturm" is a really beautiful film, both aesthetically and emotionally. The scenery is beautiful, the scene composition is beautiful, and the cinematography is artistic. Emotionally, the film is even more beautiful, as it explores the struggle of a teenage man who is coming to terms with his sexuality. Tobi's inner struggle is very well presented, and viewers can easily identify with the characters.

The friendship between Tobi and Achim is warm and genuine, and their youthful energy radiates throughout the film. Their friendship is beautiful. Well, everything about this film is beautiful. "Sommersturm" is a gem and I hope there will be more films like this.