"Hirngespinster" or "Flights of Fancy" is a German movie from two years ago (2014) that runs for slightly over 90 minutes and features Tobias Moretti and Jonas Nay, two of the most successful German(-language) actors right now from their respective age groups. The director is Christian Bach and he is also the writer. This one here is (probably thanks to the cast) his most known work so far. It is the story of a teenage boy as he struggles in life as everybody his age did, only with the difference that his father is a schizophrenic while he experiences first love and other oh so important stuff for young people his age. The result is of course that he has major struggles when it comes to the relationship with his father, but also his mother.
Nay did what he had to do I guess, but it was nothing too impressive or memorable. The standout here was clearly Moretti who manages the subtle and loud moments of a character that admittedly also offers great potential for the actor portraying it. I would even go so far and say Moretti is the only real reason to check this film out. It sure took a while until Moretti became what he is today in terms of serious big-screen acting, but hey you have to start somewhere, even if it is a crime television show that has you play second fiddle to a dog. Now back to this film here. I personally think the topic offered a lot more than the outcome delivered eventually. This is not a film that does justice to schizophrenics or that is a defining work on this serious illness and also not a defining work when it comes to depicting the lives of the people who have to live with these ill people.
Overall, I would say that this was definitely a missed opportunity. Yes there are some upsides like Moretti or here and there also a good moment in terms of the story, but all in all, the story is also the film's biggest weakness. I don't think Bach succeeded with realism, not only in the loudest, most memorable moments and sequences like the car crash towards the end, but also during the moment that should have been subtly convincing, but never were. This for example refers to a conversation between the boy and his mother at the end that just did not feel authentic and this description also applies to many many other moments during these 1.5 hours from start to finish. There were moments when I considered giving this one a thumbs-up, but eventually the bad outweighs the good and I cannot recommend the watch.
Nay did what he had to do I guess, but it was nothing too impressive or memorable. The standout here was clearly Moretti who manages the subtle and loud moments of a character that admittedly also offers great potential for the actor portraying it. I would even go so far and say Moretti is the only real reason to check this film out. It sure took a while until Moretti became what he is today in terms of serious big-screen acting, but hey you have to start somewhere, even if it is a crime television show that has you play second fiddle to a dog. Now back to this film here. I personally think the topic offered a lot more than the outcome delivered eventually. This is not a film that does justice to schizophrenics or that is a defining work on this serious illness and also not a defining work when it comes to depicting the lives of the people who have to live with these ill people.
Overall, I would say that this was definitely a missed opportunity. Yes there are some upsides like Moretti or here and there also a good moment in terms of the story, but all in all, the story is also the film's biggest weakness. I don't think Bach succeeded with realism, not only in the loudest, most memorable moments and sequences like the car crash towards the end, but also during the moment that should have been subtly convincing, but never were. This for example refers to a conversation between the boy and his mother at the end that just did not feel authentic and this description also applies to many many other moments during these 1.5 hours from start to finish. There were moments when I considered giving this one a thumbs-up, but eventually the bad outweighs the good and I cannot recommend the watch.
