Casting *** (2017, Andreas Lust, Judith Engel, Tim Kalkhof) – Movie Review

Co-writer/ director Nicolas Wackerbarth’s German film has wicked fun at the expense of actors and creatives in this witty, funny and clever comedy drama about the casting sessions for a remake of Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s Seventies all-women classic The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant (1972).

The gay, handsome, middle-aged semi-retired actor Gerwin (Andreas Lust) is brought in to read what is now the man’s role, so the director, Vera (Judith Engel), can pick and chose among five older, slightly sad and desperate actresses who are vying for the plum role of Petra. The actor has already been cast, Kostja Stahnke, played by Tim Kalkhof from The Cakemaker. But he is working elsewhere and can’t read his role at the casting.

Gerwin (Andreas Lust).

Gerwin soon discovers he’d like Kostja’s role, but Vera, who isn’t clear about anything, especially who the hell is going to play Petra, is clear he won’t be getting that role. He’s just there to read, well, at first, that is.

The plot twists and turns nicely, the lines and situations are funny, and the performances are beyond expert, with Engel keeping hold of her aggravating character, so you somehow still think she’s OK. Though a satire, with larger-than-life characters, it has a lot of truthful stuff to say about the processes of film-making and acting, and about sexual politics, and it says it real well. Like all the best jokes, it has a good punchline, and finishes in exactly the right place.

You don’t have to have seen  The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant to enjoy and appreciate this, but it would help. Besides it could be one of the 1000 movies you have to see before you croak.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Movie Review

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Tim Kalkhof from The Cakemaker.