(Above: Samuel Finzi as Arnold & Inka Friedrich as Kathrin)
Risks And Side Effects (Comedy)
Austria (2021 - 90 minutes) (Subtitles)
Director: Michael Kreihsl
(Risks and Side Effects will feature on the programme of the European Film Festival which runs from October 14 to 24, 2021.)
The performers above, and other bit-part players, are all extremely professional in this tight and very entertaining and watchable movie! (Review
by Barry Meehan)
When undergoing any major surgical operation in this day and age, one always needs to be aware of the risks and side effects. Most of us probably minimize those risks in our minds, thinking that we might be immune, for whatever reason, real or imaginary. Others, and this includes hypochondriacs, will take the side effects to heart, thinking that everything that could happen to them, will happen to them.
Now this might not sound like the ideal subject for a comedy film, but Risks and Side Effects is one of the most amusing movies I’ve seen in a long time. This is going to be a very short review, as I don’t want to even lay down the basis of a synopsis, as I believe that it might spoil your enjoyment of this wicked and wonderful tale, which has so many “laugh-out-loud” moments, many of them coming from totally unexpected directions.
Just a brief character breakdown:
-Arnold (Samuel Finzi) is a very successful architect, totally immersed in his latest project – a multi-storey tower block – which unfortunately has a somewhat phallic look about it, leading to some humorous conversations and situations. Being self-absorbed, he doesn’t come up with the correct responses to his long-suffering wife ......
-Kathrin (Inka Friedrich), a Pilates instructor, whose visit to their doctor sets the wheels in motion for the basis of the plot.
-Eva (Tijan Marei), their daughter, who is happily married but is in the middle of a major home move.
(Above: Pia Hierzegger as Diana and Thomas Mraz as Gotz)
-Diana (Pia Hierzegger), Kathrin’s closest friend, who has a deep secret which she tries hard to keep from her partner .......
-Gotz (Thomas Mraz), who is Arnold’s best friend. His “no-strings” spur-of-the-moment offer to Kathrin, while Arnold is still trying to make up his mind about the situation, causes deep rifts in the foursome’s relationships, even though it is done out of the goodness of his heart.
The performers above, and other bit-part players, are all extremely professional in this tight and very entertaining and watchable movie! Don’t Google it or look for any other publicity material, just sit back, watch it and enjoy as it takes you along on a journey to the unavoidable question – what is true love? - Barry Meehan
Risks and Side Effects can be seen free of charge from October 14 to 24, 2021, on the European Film Festival’s website. For more information visit https://www.eurofilmfest.co.za/
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