My past three days of SIFFing have included a docu-bio on one of my favorite filmmakers (Still Alive: A Film About Krzysztof Kieslowski), some hot Korean quasi-softcore (No Regret), and a sick-n-wrong comedy by David Wain and the State folks (The Ten). But the biggest deal by far is yesterday's screening of the brilliant, heartfelt, masterfully produced German film Emma's Bliss, which is my favorite of the 60ish films I've seen at SIFF '07 thusfar.
The titular heroine (played to perfection by stage/TV actress Jördis Triebel, amazing in ways you're just never quite prepared for) is a churlish, wise, salt-of-the earth pig breeder on a remote patch of land surrounded by some gorgeous countryside. And Emma is a complete badass. When she isn't using a double-barrel shotgun to chase the law off her property, she's humanely slaughtering hogs, single-handedly managing her deep-in-dept family farm, and getting special thrills from her daily motorcycle rides.
Elsewhere, city-boy mechanic Max (Jürgen Vogel, also great in German Spotlight film A Friend of Mine), recently diagnosed with fatal pancreatic cancer, has decided to skip town and live out his last days in sunny Mexico. But he doesn't quite make it there, because after a Hitchcockian series of events he finds himself in an overturned car on Emma's farm... along with a tidy sum of cash he's pilfered from his crooked employer.
That's the first ten minutes or so, and don't expect the rest to be Lifetime-romancey: the remaining hour and a half holds a remarkably unpredictable love story (simplistic urban vs. rural paradigms bedamned) that is as sensuous, down-to-earth, and just plain good as anything I've seen all year. Sophomore feature director Sven Taddicken utilizes his luminous actors, along with Daniela Knapp's stunning 35mm images, to convey truths and emotions wholly outside of time and locale. They hurt, they sneak up on you, and it's all completely wonderful.
You have one more chance to see Emma's Bliss at SIFF '07 -- this Sunday (6/3), 4:15p, Egyptian. Check it out before the inevitable American remake jacks it up beyond recognition. Have the mini-Kleenex handy, too -- and don't think you'll only be needing 'em at the end.
1 manoela pessoa said on June 4, 2007
i wanna know some details of emma's bliss soundtrack.
the only one i know is older chests, of damien rice, but most of them are wonderful, the last song also of them!
can you send me those names or something to help me to start looking for it?
tks
manoela
2 imaginary embracey said on June 4, 2007
The original production music, by Christoph Blaser and Steffen Kahles, is fantastic. I liked the other music too, and wish I'd taken note. (I was too busy composing myself during the end credits to actually make out words on the screen - I'm sure you understand.)
The film is being distributed by The Match Factory - here's their Contact Us page. Let us know what you find out!
3 Juan said on July 24, 2007
hi, i am also interested in getting this fantastic soundtrack, but can't find any info. before emailing 'the match factory' people, i'd like to ask you if you managed to find the songs names or something.
thanks.
4 imaginary embracey said on July 25, 2007
Unfortunately not -- and no word from manoela, either. Let us know if The Match Factory is any help, and if/when we get it I'll do my best to review the soundtrack right here on TIG.
5 ladyiha said on November 11, 2007
Hi there, I was lucky enough to catch this gem of a movie this evening at the German Film Festival right here in Singapore! Luckily I managed to compose myself before the music credits came on. :P
The name of the last song sung by a female voice is "Safe and Sound" by Azure Ray, and you can check out the lyrics and a short snippet of it at http://www.actionext.com/names_a/azure_ray_lyrics/safe_and_sound.html
Oh, I found your review also by googling for the name of Damian Rice's song, which I couldn't catch in time. Wish it was easier to get soundtracks of European films...
6 Anthony N said on June 29, 2011
7 Maki said on July 1, 2011
8 Anthony N said on July 3, 2011
Hi Maki! Yep that's a great song! :) I thought it was by Damien rice as well and couldn't find anything. So I searched on Google for "Emmas Glück- connected song" and discovered that it was actually sung by a Swedish singer named Kristofer Åström. (1) http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107858560991/
(2) http://www.last.fm/music/Kristofer+%C3%85str%C3%B6m
(3) http://kristoferastrom.com
(4) http://www.myspace.com/kastrom
It's track 7 on his 2001 album called Northern Blues. You can buy it on itunes for 99c.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/northern-blues/id278859032
http://www.amazon.de/Northern-Blues-Kristofer-Astr%C3%B6m/dp/B00005YW95/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1309716662&sr=8-2
9 Maki said on July 11, 2011
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