Stroszek

Rating:
Summary: Probably Herzog's Best
Review: "Stroszek" is probably German director Werner Herzog's best film. It's a strange, unpredictable, and oddly funny movie. It's about a Berlin ex-con, Bruno Stroszek (played by a real-life disturbed street musician, Bruno S.), his prostitute girlfriend Eva, and his borderline-senile landlord Scheitz. After being repeatedly terrorized by Eva's pimps, they move to Wisconsin to live with some of Scheitz's friends and, hopefully, encounter the American dream. Revealing any more of the plot would be a crime. "Stroszek" not only has a terrific, haunting performance by Bruno S., but it contains the most fascinating depiction of America I have ever seen in a movie, as well as one of filmdom's funniest bank robberies.
The DVD has "Stroszek" in an aspect ratio of about 1.85:1. It's a bit grainy towards the beginning, but overall it looks pretty good, especially in the Wisconsin scenes. Of the extras, the most interesting is Herzog's commentary, basically an extended interview with a film historian named Norman Hill. It's a very fascinating blend of production tidbits, information about Bruno S., and some of Herzog's trademark tall tales. Also included are production notes (with are actually devoted more to film analysis and Herzog's relationship with Bruno S. than they are to production), a worthwhile Herzog biography, and a German trailer.

Rating:
Summary: stroszek
Review: A wonderful look into european vs. american culture and attitudes, stellar imagery and characters, its like your seeing the whole thing happening for real...they have turned it into a theatre production, it opens in texas at the end of february!

Rating:
Summary: "Is This Really Me?"
Review: Absolutely brilliant. Stroszek is THE quintessential film on the American experience. A dark fable revolving around the hopes and dreams of three postwar Germans and the disintegration of a relationship. But also incredibly funny and cynical. My favorite Herzog film so far.

Rating:
Summary: "Is This Really Me?"
Review: Absolutely brilliant. Stroszek is THE quintessential film on the American experience. A dark fable revolving around the hopes and dreams of three postwar Germans and the disintegration of a relationship. But also incredibly funny and cynical. Herzog's best film to date, in my opinion.

Rating:
Summary: From Berlin to Wisconsin!
Review: Bruno S stars in Herzog's bleakly and more merciless humorous view of the American dream made barren.
Three outsiders of the world and the life ; a prostitute , a street musician and an aging eccentric emigrate to Wisconsin ,hoping for great opportunity and finding only as answer a deep despair .Watch for Chet Atkins , the Nashville legend in the harmonic
Curiously the journey to the promised land is exactly opposite to the starring of Zentropa who goes from USA to German after the WWS in search of best opportunities.
This film through the years has won an increasing critical acclaim .



Rating:
Summary: A Rare Gem
Review: I find it frustrating that American filmmakers cannot make a film as good as this one is. The whole story of misplaced hopes and lost dreams on the dreary American landscape is more powerful in it's telling than many films have been. The action of this film moves us from birth to death in a philosophical journey of the soul. The arrival of these obviously hopeful and distraught people on American shores is like the rebirth many immigrants went through when they escaped their own countries and arrived here. Dreams of streets paved with gold and the easy credit of American commerce is the undoing of many yet, here we see the disaster of it all. One doesn't have to be a recent immigrant to experience the foibles of modern credit like our characters do. They exemplify it though and it is to their peril that they do not understand it. The closing scene where we hear the solitary gunshot is most powerful. That it is done near a roadside zoo with it's caged animals is perfect because it portrays the cage our man has put himself into. There is only one way out, he takes it. Like many powerful financiers of the twenties who lost everything he does the only thing which will solve his problems.
The gunshot is his goodbye to his problems and the beginning of his new life. A shame that American studios cannot produce movies such as this. They are in need of lessons from directors who understand cinema and should study films of this type. Maybe they will be able to improve the fare they offer to us.

Rating:
Summary: A Rare Gem
Review: I find it frustrating that American filmmakers cannot make a film as good as this one is. The whole story of misplaced hopes and lost dreams on the dreary American landscape is more powerful in it's telling than many films have been. The action of this film moves us from birth to death in a philosophical journey of the soul. The arrival of these obviously hopeful and distraught people on American shores is like the rebirth many immigrants went through when they escaped their own countries and arrived here. Dreams of streets paved with gold and the easy credit of American commerce is the undoing of many yet, here we see the disaster of it all. One doesn't have to be a recent immigrant to experience the foibles of modern credit like our characters do. They exemplify it though and it is to their peril that they do not understand it. The closing scene where we hear the solitary gunshot is most powerful. That it is done near a roadside zoo with it's caged animals is perfect because it portrays the cage our man has put himself into. There is only one way out, he takes it. Like many powerful financiers of the twenties who lost everything he does the only thing which will solve his problems.
The gunshot is his goodbye to his problems and the beginning of his new life. A shame that American studios cannot produce movies such as this. They are in need of lessons from directors who understand cinema and should study films of this type. Maybe they will be able to improve the fare they offer to us.

Rating:
Summary: A superb expression of solitude with the glockenspiel tune.
Review: I saw this film only once in 1978 in Lausanne with the original German version with a French subtitle . Though I did not understand a word of German and French at that time , and today even the plot naturally is already gone out of my mind because this film (neither the video) has never been released in Japan , the shock the film had given me is still vivid after 21 years . Bruno S , his beast-like looking appearance , a vulgar behavior and his innocent solitude inside made an inexplicable contrast and impression . There was a scene that Stroszek wonders around on a narrow stone paved street alone in the town with a bandneon at his hand . The Beethoven's last piano sonata played by the glockenspiel was superimposed to the scene . That was the celestial music I have never heard and I will never hear . Without a word of Stroszek , that Beethoven impressively expressed the solitude of Stroszek , the solitude all human being commonly shares . It may be that the impression I had is different from what Herzog had intended , because I did not understand a word of what was spoken in the film , it is the wonder of the film that a film can give more than what the director has intended . I believe that the definition of " master piece " in all genre of the art is what gives more than the creator has intended .

Rating:
Summary: Thrilling to read these great reviews
Review: It really is exciting to read these great reviews about "Stroszek." About twenty years ago, I met Herzog and was given the opportunity to play the young banker who reposesses the mobile home in this film. It was a wonderful experience...and something I look back on with great joy. I know I am biased, but this truly is a great film.

Rating:
Summary: Thrilling to read these great reviews
Review: It really is exciting to read these great reviews about "Stroszek." About twenty years ago, I met Herzog and was given the opportunity to play the young banker who reposesses the mobile home in this film. It was a wonderful experience...and something I look back on with great joy. I know I am biased, but this truly is a great film.