Who Are We? *** (2022, Felix Maria Berger, Patrick Isopp, Victor Ramos, Alexander Diwiak, Saskia Norman, Marc Buchegger, Jason Cloud) – Classic Movie Review 12,392

Careful what you wish for. One swipe can destroy a relationship. David and Chris spice up their relationship by turning to a gay dating app, throwing four lives into turmoil. 

There is plenty of drama entertainment and food for thought in director/ producer Jirka Černý’s convincing Austrian LGBTQ four-part episodic film Who Are We?, a story about the rise and fall – and possible rise again – of two gay couples, set against the backdrop of a non-touristy Vienna.

Felix Maria Berger plays slightly older lawyer David and Patrick Isopp plays his budding photographer partner Chris, who persuades him to spice up their relationship by arranging a one-night threesome via a gay dating app – with catastrophic results. Enter unmotivated ex-prostitute Lukas (Victor Ramos) into their lives, as Chris falls for him, but Lukas is also in a relationship – with freelance IT worker Raphael (Alexander Diwiak), a tekkie employed by David at his own law firm.

Patrick Isopp plays budding photographer Chris.

They made it for only €7,500! That’s a real achievement, with its good production values. and smart air of professionalism. Acting, script, score and direction are all very solid, quite strong. It feels like four little slices of real life neatly packaged. The actors feel like people out of real life too, not very starry, just quite ordinary like everybody else, playing interesting characters that have plenty of flaws and unresolved issues.

Jirka Černý writes the script with Stefan Radaković. It is well thought out and neatly plotted, and feels quite fresh, bold and ambitious, just as they have planned. Not sure about the four-part format, but you can just settle into it, accept it and enjoy it.

They’ve put a lot of thought into it. It asks a lot of questions and invites you to answer. Should you let go when a relationship is not working or try to fix it? Can you fix it? Or is change necessary? Van you actually change someone else? And finally… Is the mobile phone the beginning or end of communication?

It is made by New Stories as a longer third instalment in their ‘Who’ series begun with Who Are You? and Who Am I?

It was funded by the City of Vienna Culture.

© Derek Winnert 2023 – Classic Movie Review 12,392

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com

Felix Maria Berger plays slightly older lawyer David.