"Kriegerin" (German term for a female warrior) is a 4-year-old 105-minute movie written and directed by David Wnendt. The best way to see this is not as a film which will tell you accurately about life as a Nazi or life in a Nazi community, but as a character study of two females and what factors caused them to end up in this company of right-wing extremists. It has a lot to do with the behavior from their parents including emotional and physical (the cigarette scene) abuse by those who are supposed to protect them and help them finding their place in life. The way these two girls developed during the movie makes it obvious that they do not necessarily believe in the ideal of Nazis, but their acting in accordance with them is really more a consequence of wanting to belong somewhere and being accepted the way they are. However, quite ironically, they are changing in order to be accepted and they willingly do so. I am not really sure if I found Levshin's or Haase's character more interesting. However, it is obvious that Levshin's character sees parallels to herself in Haase's character. And as she becomes more tolerant (also thanks to the boy), she tries to be a helping hand to Haase's character and maybe prevent her from making the same mistakes she did.
This was the big breakthrough film for Ukrainian-born Alina Levshin. She won a German Film Award for it and is since considered among the top actresses of her generation on the German market. And it was also one of Haase's breakthrough films. David Wnendt won a German Film Award as well for his screenplay and the film itself was honored as the third best movie of the year. Wnendt went on to direct the heavily-discussed "Feuchtgebiete" (based on Charlotte Roche's novel) after that, an in my opinion terrible film that couldn't be more different from "Kriegerin". Still, somehow I expected more from "Kriergerin". I really do not believe the screenplay is that good. It's almost entirely Levshin's performance which holds this film so well together. At times, especially at the very final scene near the sea this film could have done with tome more subtlety in my opinion. But Wnendt went for over-the-top showiness instead sadly. Also, I would have preferred an approach which not only displays the women in the Nazi community as victims or as somewhat good people. Maybe one of the guys helping the girls would have been nice as well. It's almost sexist. With some slight alterations, this could have been an actually great film and not only a decent one. Still, all in all, I recommend watching it.
This was the big breakthrough film for Ukrainian-born Alina Levshin. She won a German Film Award for it and is since considered among the top actresses of her generation on the German market. And it was also one of Haase's breakthrough films. David Wnendt won a German Film Award as well for his screenplay and the film itself was honored as the third best movie of the year. Wnendt went on to direct the heavily-discussed "Feuchtgebiete" (based on Charlotte Roche's novel) after that, an in my opinion terrible film that couldn't be more different from "Kriegerin". Still, somehow I expected more from "Kriergerin". I really do not believe the screenplay is that good. It's almost entirely Levshin's performance which holds this film so well together. At times, especially at the very final scene near the sea this film could have done with tome more subtlety in my opinion. But Wnendt went for over-the-top showiness instead sadly. Also, I would have preferred an approach which not only displays the women in the Nazi community as victims or as somewhat good people. Maybe one of the guys helping the girls would have been nice as well. It's almost sexist. With some slight alterations, this could have been an actually great film and not only a decent one. Still, all in all, I recommend watching it.