loading...
Aimee And Jaguar
1999
In 1943, as World War II's Battle of Berlin rages, with air raids forcing families into their cellars for shelter and bombs exploding all over the city, Felice Schragenheim (Juliane Kohler) and Lilly Wust (Maria Schrader), fall in love. Director Max Farberbock's AIMEE & JAGUAR tells the true story of this passionate, forbidden .. Read more
| Starring | Maria Schrader, Juliane Kohler, Johanna Wokalek, Heike Makatsch |
|---|---|
| Director | Max Farberbock |
| Genres | Drama, Gay/Lesbian, Romance, World Cinema |
loading...
Aimee And Jaguar
In 1943, as World War II's Battle of Berlin rages, with air raids forcing families into their cellars for shelter and bombs exploding all over the city, Felice Schragenheim (Juliane Kohler) and Lilly Wust (Maria Schrader), fall in love. Director Max Farberbock's AIMEE & JAGUAR tells the true story of this passionate, forbidden love affair, adapted from the 1998 book of the same title by Erica Fischer.
Felice, a dark and beautiful Jewish woman who is constantly in danger of being apprehended by the Gestapo, works for a Nazi newspaper under a false name, feeding what she learns to underground resistance leaders. Lilly, a flowery blond housewife living in bourgeoise comfort, raises 4 little boys, passing the time until her Nazi husband, Gunther, returns from the war. When the two meet, and Felice makes advances, Lilly responds, falling into total submission under Felice's spell. They nickname each other Aimee (Lilly) and Jaguar (Felice), spending every night dancing to popular 40s jazz music with Felice's eccentric lesbian friends, and every day raising the four boys who treat Felice like a second mother. It is not until the end of their affair, when Lilly--and soon thereafter, the authorities--learns that Felice is a Jew, and tragedy befalls the couple.
| Starring | Maria Schrader, Juliane Kohler, Johanna Wokalek, Heike Makatsch, Margit Bendokat, H.C. Blumenberg, Detlev Buck, Michael Degen, Inge Keller, Kyra Mladeck, Jochen Stern, Peter Weck |
|---|---|
| Director | Max Farberbock |
| Studio | OPTIMUM HOME ENTERTAINMENT |
| Run time | DVD: 2 hrs 5 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Drama, Gay/Lesbian, Romance, World Cinema |
| Language | DVD: German |
| Subtitles | DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: 29 Oct 2001 Production year: 1999 |
| Format | DVD |
-
Critics' reviews (5)
View all -
Based on the true story of the wartime relationship between model mother Lilly Wust and Jewish lesbian Felice Schragenheim, this study of the indomitability of the lovers and the insidiousness of Nazism might have been more persuasive had debuting director Max Färberböck devoted more time to period authenticity. There may be air raids and Gestapo patrols, but the nitty-gritty of life in 1943 Berlin is missing. This undermines the acting efforts of the impulsive Juliane Köhler and the seductive Maria Schrader, whose ability to pass as a Gentile provides her with as much excitement as her romance. Melodramatic, but engrossing.
-
Berlin, 1943. As bombs fall, the last Jews are tracked down. Felice (Schrader) helps her newspaper boss with another... read more on Time Out
-
Most helpful member's review
View all -
12 out of 17 people found this review helpful
Love amidst fear in WWII Berlin
This film succeeds on many fronts as it recreates the fear and terror of life in Berlin during 1942/3 as the allied bombings are intensified.
Jewish Felice (Schrader) is courageous and frightened working for a newspaper gathering information for the resistance to the Nazis, escaping during evenings with a group of fellow lesbians for a few hours of desperate enjoyment. Her life changes when she meets Lilly (Kohler).
The acting of Schrader and Kohler and the chemistry between them is extraordinary, as is the script. They reveal the true nature of a deep lesbian relationship, the love scenes and reconciliation scenes between them could only take place between two women, they would be impossible in a heterosexual relationship.
The frequently dark settings and beautifully photographed face of Schrader in deep shadow are essential elements.
In every way a deeply emotional experience amidst the futility of racial hatred and the suffering of war. -
Most recent members' review
View all -
6 out of 10 people found this review helpful
Love with a slight twist:
Aimee and Jaguar is the true story of two women who met during wartime Germany.
It tells of their deep love affair during a time of death and discrimination. Their love couldn't exist in those times, not only were they lesbians but one of them was a jew.
It's a poignant film, well directed with wonderful performances. A nice twist on a familiar story. -
Image gallery
View allShowing 1 to 3 of 3
-
-
More like this
View allShowing 1 to 4 of 20
Related user collection
Subtitled Gems (11)
73.6% from 19 members
