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Hounds (2007)
Director: Ann-Kristin Reyels
Movie review
From Time Out London
This highly promising debut from writer-director Reyels set in the snowy backwoods of North East Germany at Christmas draws excellent performances, prime among them Von Jascheroff's as the open-natured and mature 16-year-old Lars contending with not only a new life and local bullies but also a fracturing, recently-separated, father; Luise Berndt's as his sweet, mute girlriend, Marie; and Sven Lehman's as Marie's taciturn father who not only shoots Lars's beloved dog but who selfishly and self-protectively sets up unreasonable opposition to Lars's gentle, developing relationship with his daughter. Good cinematography, keen observation and understanding of character, subtle pacing and distinctive direction (notably in an dinner-table set-piece of discomforted looks and glances), complemented by an organic, discreet use of symbolism (notably of animals, wild or domestic) and a pleasing lack of over-emphasis are let down only by a possibly unneccessary – and unnecessarily ambiguous – ending replacing a needed, sadly missing, third act.Author: Wally Hammond
Time Out London
Cast & crew
Director: Ann-Kristin Reyels
Cast: Luise Berndt, Josef Hader, Constantin von Jascheroff full cast
Duration: 86 mins
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