FOREST FOR THE TREES
aka DER WALD VOR LAUTER BÄUMEN

Year: 2004
UK: ICA Projects
Cast: Eva Löbau, Daniela Holtz, Jan Neumann, Ilona Christina Schulz, Robert Schupp, Heinz Röser-Dummig, Martina Eckrich, Nina Fiedler, Hans-Rudiger Kucich, Ruth Köppler, Achim Enchelmaier, Monika Hirschle, Volker Jeck
Director: Maren Ade
Country: Germany
Language: German (English subtitles)
UK: 81 mins
UK Release Date: 17 February 2006 (Limited Release - London, ICA)

UK Distributor

Synopsis

This debut feature from German director Maren Ade is so sensitive to human emotion, and so finely attuned to the desperate feelings of its lead character, from the provinces who takes a position in a big city school. Her professional and social limitations soon start to show however, leaving her vulnerable in her dealings with new colleagues and friends. Melanie is the sort of character who might be treated as a figure of fun by some filmmakers, but Ade attempts to maintain audience empathy even as the situations become borderline painful. This deceptively simple film has a lot to say about human behaviour under everyday pressure. That it manages to find grace amidst its harsh truths is just one of its many achievements.