• Pop Culture
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Comic Books
    • Video Games
    • Toys & Collectibles
  • Features
    • News
    • Reviews
    • Articles and Opinions
    • Interviews
    • Exclusives
    • FMTV
  • Socials
    • YouTube
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • Flipboard
  • About
    • About Flickering Myth
    • Write for Flickering Myth
    • Advertise on Flickering Myth
  • Terms
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy

Flickering Myth

Geek Culture | Movies, TV, Comic Books & Video Games

  • TRENDING TOPICS:
  • Star Wars
  • Marvel
  • DC
  • Physical Media
  • Write for Us

TIFF 2014 Review – Phoenix (2014)

September 14, 2014 by admin

Phoenix, 2014.

Directed by Christian Petzold.

Starring Nina Hoss, Ronald Zehrfeld, Nina Kunzendorf, Michael Maertens, and Imogen Kogge.

SYNOPSIS:

A concentration-camp survivor searches ravaged postwar Berlin for the husband who might have betrayed her to the Nazis.

A car reaches a checkpoint guarded by American soldiers one of whom demands that the passenger remove the bandages wrapped around her face; upon seeing the injuries that were hidden he apologizes for his behaviour and lets them carry on.  The badly disfigured woman is a Jewish heiress who has returned to Berlin and has come into an inheritance as she is the only remaining member of her family; when given the choice for facial reconstruction she decides to maintain her original appearance.

Hanging over the proceedings is the disappearance of the husband of the protagonist who may or may not be responsible for her capture by the Nazis; despite this she is determined to be reunited with the love of her life and seeks him out by visiting various clubs in the American sector of Berlin.  The quest is accomplished though the one-time piano player turned waiter does not recognize his spouse and devises a plan to use her as the means to get access to the inheritance of his wife.

Phoenix is a slow-burn which allows the action to unfold rather than force plot points at certain time frames.  Ronald Zehrfeld (Barbara) portrays a desperate and conniving character who looks like an overweight version of Clark Gable.  Nina Kunzendorf (Woman in Gold) portrays a true friend of the protagonist who sees the future to be had in Israel rather than staying in Germany.  The star of the period drama is Nina Hoss (Yella) who has play an individual trying to pretend to be herself; there is a quietness to her performance that one is never sure whether she will succumb to will of her devious object of her affection or will be able to stand on her own.

Filmmaker Christian Petzold (The State I Am In) has crafted carefully composed shots and gradually shows the reconstructed face as it begins to heal.  There is no sense of hurry; however, the plot always seems to be going forward.  The twist on the Pygmalion (1938) storyline adds a level of intrigue and the final scene is priceless for the reaction of the various characters as Phoenix reaches its climatic conclusion on a high note.

Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★★★★/ Movie: ★★★★

Trevor Hogg

FacebookTwitterFlipboardRedditPinterestWhatsApp

Filed Under: Uncategorized

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

The Evil Dead: 10 Facts About the Cult Classic Horror

The Most Disturbing Horror Movies of the 1980s

Robin of Sherwood: Still the quintessential take on the Robin Hood legend

The Most Overlooked Horror Movies of the 1990s

The Contemporary Queens of Action Cinema

Every Star Wars Movie Ranked From Worst to Best

The 1990s in Comic Book Movies

The Must-See Horror Movies From Every Decade

Lifeforce: A Film Only Cannon Could Have Made

Essential Gothic Horror Movies To Scare You Senseless

FEATURED POSTS:

Die Hard on a Shoestring: The Low Budget Die Hard Clones

Crazy Vampire Tales from 1988: Vampire’s Kiss and Lair of the White Worm

When Movie Artwork Was Great

Trending Now

  1. Tom Cruise wages war with Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer over IMAX screens
  2. The Essential Fantasy Movies of 1983
  3. Movie Review – The Machine (2023)
  4. Movie Review – Sanctuary (2022)
  5. Crackcoon trailer teases a drug-fuelled raccoon rampage
  6. Steven Yeun says joining Marvel was less “bucket list” and more seeking the “experience”
  • Pop Culture
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Comic Books
    • Video Games
    • Toys & Collectibles
  • Features
    • News
    • Reviews
    • Articles and Opinions
    • Interviews
    • Exclusives
    • FMTV
  • Socials
    • YouTube
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • Flipboard
  • About
    • About Flickering Myth
    • Write for Flickering Myth
    • Advertise on Flickering Myth
  • Terms
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy

© Collinson Media Limited. All rights reserved. The reproduction, modification, distribution, or republication of the content without permission is strictly prohibited. Movie titles, images, etc. are registered trademarks / copyright their respective rights holders. Read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. If you can read this, you don't need glasses.