In the cinema: Buddenbrooks

The Buddenbrooks: Tony (Jessica Schwarz), Christian (August Diehl), Consul Jean (Armin Mueller-Stahl), Thomas (Mark Waschke), Consul Bethsy (Iris Berben).

In the cinema: Buddenbrooks

everything for the family

"On the Buddenbrooks!" Consul Jean Buddenbrook (Armin Mueller-Stahl) proudly lets his eyes wander. His daughter Tony (Jessica Schwarz) is the center of attention of the ball, the sons Thomas (Mark Waschke) and Christian (August Diehl) give off a handsome figure in tails and cylinders. And the business is going well. Through grain trade it has brought the merchant to reputation and wealth.

Lübeck in the middle of the 19th century

The rules of the game in this upper middle-class world are strict: private and business are inseparable, feelings only appropriate if they do not endanger the well-being of the family. The way of the young Buddenbrooks seems destined: the sons are to increase the wealth as merchants, from the daughter one expects a befitting marriage.

Tony (Jessica Schwarz) falls in love with the medical student Morten (Alexander Fehling)

So great is the pressure of the family that Tony sacrifices her love for the medical student Morten Schwarzkopf (Alexander Fehling) and finally agrees to marry the Hamburg businessman Grünlich (Justus von Dohnányi). Her objections ("He is disgusting to me") do not let the parents apply.

While Lebemann Christian enters and leaves the theater, Thomas assumes more and more responsibility in the family business. His father finally leaves the business to him - and dies shortly after a heart attack.

The descent of the Buddenbrooks

Hermann Hagenström (Fedja van Huêt, left) adores Tony (Jessica Schwarz).

The death of the patriarch marks the slow descent of the family. Tony's husband, Grünlich, has turned out to be a bankrupt dowry hunter, and Hagenström's, long despised by the Buddenbrooks as upstarts, is catching up on business. Christian is developing into an unstable Hallodri. And Thomas, who desperately wants to keep company and family together, must watch his beautiful wife Gerda (Léa Bosco) alienate him.

Iris Berben as a chilled consul Bethsy

With Heinrich Breloer, a real man expert has ventured to the remake of this great novel. He already shot the TV multi-part "The Manns - A Century Novel". His "Buddenbrooks" is an opulent family drama, which comes up with the greats of German cinema. Iris Berben is a bit pale as Consul Bethsy - in the end, only her permanent "Like mine?" in the ear. But overall, the actor squad shines and brings us close to Mann's bulky language even today.

The feeling of Hollywood is mainly due to the elaborate costumes and lavish amenities. How painted many scenes seem, so detailed obsessed people, landscape, objects were arranged. "Buddenbrooks" does not have to hide behind major US productions. Nevertheless, director Breloer could have resisted some too cheesy pictures - such as when the newly in love Tony flees with her Morten in a neat shipwreck on the beach.

Thomas Mann's Family Tome was celebrated as a century novel. Buddenbrooks is not a century movie. But great German narrative cinema that you should not miss!

Audio-Einführung zur Inszenierung „Buddenbrooks“ (Regie Bastian Kraft) (May 2024).