"Lou Andreas-Salomé" is a German movie from last year (2016) that was written and directed by Cordula Kablitz-Post and it is probably her most known work to date, which mostly has to do with the title character here as she is fairly famous still, especially here in Germany. So I would say the potential for a solid biopic is definitely there because the subject offers the possibility for that. And "biopic" is really an accurate description here because we see the title character during different phases from her life, the very young years and the very old years and during the latter she is played by Johannes Heesters' daughter. She is also one of the more known cast members here and German film buffs will also recognize other names like Ninidze, Scheer, Schüttler, Fries and of course Peter Simonischek who played the title character in the Oscar-nominated Toni Erdmann recently. So I would say that the potential in terms of the performers was also there, even if I am not too familiar with Katharina Lorenz admittedly and she is perhaps the one with most screen time.
Unfortunately, it all stands and falls with the script and I personally would say it is the latter here. Focus is a major problem in this film and the consequence is that it drags quite a bit and has a few lengths at its slightly under 2 hours. It's a bit of a shame as I believe that the scenario offered more. Instead, the film keeps losing itself in one scene after the other where male suitors fall for the title character in what you could call almost self-sacrifice and this is such a repetitive story line that at some point it just becomes cringeworthy. The inclusion of several big names like Rilke, Nietzsche and Freud also did not really add the tension and memorable material I hoped it could. Overall, it is a really bland period piece that is neither a good biopic, nor a good character study and also makes a surprisingly small impact in terms of the times this takes place, namely the years of Nazi Germany already during LAS' late years. I am all for feminist movies, but this is not it and even if she may be a character to look up to for woman, the way she was depicted here unfortunately is not. I give this movie a thumbs-down. Overall a letdown.
Unfortunately, it all stands and falls with the script and I personally would say it is the latter here. Focus is a major problem in this film and the consequence is that it drags quite a bit and has a few lengths at its slightly under 2 hours. It's a bit of a shame as I believe that the scenario offered more. Instead, the film keeps losing itself in one scene after the other where male suitors fall for the title character in what you could call almost self-sacrifice and this is such a repetitive story line that at some point it just becomes cringeworthy. The inclusion of several big names like Rilke, Nietzsche and Freud also did not really add the tension and memorable material I hoped it could. Overall, it is a really bland period piece that is neither a good biopic, nor a good character study and also makes a surprisingly small impact in terms of the times this takes place, namely the years of Nazi Germany already during LAS' late years. I am all for feminist movies, but this is not it and even if she may be a character to look up to for woman, the way she was depicted here unfortunately is not. I give this movie a thumbs-down. Overall a letdown.