"In the Fade" (2017 release from Germany; 106 min.; original title "Aus dem Nichts" or "From Nothing") brings the story of Katja. As the movie opens, we see Katja marrying her Turkish boyfriend Nuri in a quickie prison wedding. We then move to today, where Katja and Nuri have a 6 year old son Rocco, living happily in Hamburg. One day, Katja drops off Rocco at Nuri's office, while Katja meets up with a pregnant girlfriend for a ladies day out. Upon returning, the street of Nuri's office is blocked off, and before we know it, we realize that a bomb explosion has killed Nuri and Rocco. Who has done this? and why? At this point we are 10 min. into the movie, but to tell you more would spoil your viewing experience, you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out.
Couple of comments: this is latest movie from German (and of Turkish decent) writer-director Fatih Akin, Here he examines the aftermath of a brutal bombing, leaving a woman to cope with inconceivable grief, while wondering whether the bombers will be caught. The movie comes in several chapters (I.The Family II.Justice, etc.). The movie stands or falls with the performance by Diane Kruger, an American-German actress here taking on her first German-speaking role. Kruger is nothing short of phenomenal as the grieving and then angry widow. The movie is bound to create and stimulate discussion with its controversial ending (biting lips--I shan't say more!). I have no idea why the US release is done as "In the Fade" (what does that mean anyway?), rather than a literal translation of the original German title "From Nothing". Diane Kruger won Best Actress for that at last year's Canned Film Festival (where it premiered), and the movie won this year's Golden Globe for Best Foreign Film, yet inexplicably this didn't even score a Best Oscar nomination (let alone win)...
I saw "Aus dem Nichts" this past weekend at the Gateway Film Center in Columbus, OH. The Sunday early evening screening where I saw this at (the evening of the Oscar ceremonies) was attended nicely (about half the auditorium). While the movie isn't without fault and some may argue that the last third stretches credibility, I nevertheless found this a very much worthwhile movie, and I'd readily recommend you seek this out, be it in the theater, on VOD or eventually on DVD/Blu-ray, and draw your own conclusion.
Couple of comments: this is latest movie from German (and of Turkish decent) writer-director Fatih Akin, Here he examines the aftermath of a brutal bombing, leaving a woman to cope with inconceivable grief, while wondering whether the bombers will be caught. The movie comes in several chapters (I.The Family II.Justice, etc.). The movie stands or falls with the performance by Diane Kruger, an American-German actress here taking on her first German-speaking role. Kruger is nothing short of phenomenal as the grieving and then angry widow. The movie is bound to create and stimulate discussion with its controversial ending (biting lips--I shan't say more!). I have no idea why the US release is done as "In the Fade" (what does that mean anyway?), rather than a literal translation of the original German title "From Nothing". Diane Kruger won Best Actress for that at last year's Canned Film Festival (where it premiered), and the movie won this year's Golden Globe for Best Foreign Film, yet inexplicably this didn't even score a Best Oscar nomination (let alone win)...
I saw "Aus dem Nichts" this past weekend at the Gateway Film Center in Columbus, OH. The Sunday early evening screening where I saw this at (the evening of the Oscar ceremonies) was attended nicely (about half the auditorium). While the movie isn't without fault and some may argue that the last third stretches credibility, I nevertheless found this a very much worthwhile movie, and I'd readily recommend you seek this out, be it in the theater, on VOD or eventually on DVD/Blu-ray, and draw your own conclusion.