"Schwarz Weiss Deutsch" ("Germany in Black and White") presents a nice couple living in Germany interviewed by a documentary that wants to present the peculiar aspects of their lives together, and above all, the filmmakers feel the need to discuss how this interracial couple see themselves among German culture and population. What follows is a slightly uncomfortable discussion that goes to show they have nothing in common in the first place.
If this explanation isn't quite clear it's best for you to watch the movie and see for yourself what the director wants to bring with this. The setting could be presented in anywhere in the world, in all continents and the outcome would be the same: some conflicts, plenty of controversial despite the fact that there shouldn't be none, even more now in the 21st Century. I don't think the film provided anything new neither so positively interesting as the characters (particularly the simple-minded - and why not? racist man) are only providing dull and small points to the questions about culture, life in Germany and stuff, and how they are perceived in the society. All of that is presented on a unaffected and unsatisfying manner. The movie doesn't hit with the right questions about why race is something to matter when it comes to love relationships: is it something about the way people look at us for being different yet together?; is it something inside me that gets uncomfortable for dating/marrying some from other race than mine?; why does it matter to us or others the way we look?; why this has to be touchy aspect of a relation? Those questions weren't asked, thought out neither answered and that's what hurt the movie.
And everything you need to know about different race and relations comes from films like "Jungle Fever", "One Night Stand", "Something New"...I know it's lacking the German point of view but still worthy of reflection. And I'm almost forgetting: Germany has a great classic that deals with the obstacles faced by an interracial couple and that is "Ali: Fear Eats the Soul", with R.W. Fassbinder turning it into art, making it real, believable, hitting the nerve right on the spot. "Germany in Black and White" movie is a nice attempt of the German cinema trying to establish a reality and present it in a good way (despite its faults, I mean, a larger scope with other characters and interactions would suit better than seeing a couple almost breaking apart due to their own lack of complicity with each other), there's some bits of humor, misses with romance but has its moments but there are many other roads to lead. A good beginning but Germany needs more in terms of making those kinds of film experiences. 6/10
If this explanation isn't quite clear it's best for you to watch the movie and see for yourself what the director wants to bring with this. The setting could be presented in anywhere in the world, in all continents and the outcome would be the same: some conflicts, plenty of controversial despite the fact that there shouldn't be none, even more now in the 21st Century. I don't think the film provided anything new neither so positively interesting as the characters (particularly the simple-minded - and why not? racist man) are only providing dull and small points to the questions about culture, life in Germany and stuff, and how they are perceived in the society. All of that is presented on a unaffected and unsatisfying manner. The movie doesn't hit with the right questions about why race is something to matter when it comes to love relationships: is it something about the way people look at us for being different yet together?; is it something inside me that gets uncomfortable for dating/marrying some from other race than mine?; why does it matter to us or others the way we look?; why this has to be touchy aspect of a relation? Those questions weren't asked, thought out neither answered and that's what hurt the movie.
And everything you need to know about different race and relations comes from films like "Jungle Fever", "One Night Stand", "Something New"...I know it's lacking the German point of view but still worthy of reflection. And I'm almost forgetting: Germany has a great classic that deals with the obstacles faced by an interracial couple and that is "Ali: Fear Eats the Soul", with R.W. Fassbinder turning it into art, making it real, believable, hitting the nerve right on the spot. "Germany in Black and White" movie is a nice attempt of the German cinema trying to establish a reality and present it in a good way (despite its faults, I mean, a larger scope with other characters and interactions would suit better than seeing a couple almost breaking apart due to their own lack of complicity with each other), there's some bits of humor, misses with romance but has its moments but there are many other roads to lead. A good beginning but Germany needs more in terms of making those kinds of film experiences. 6/10
