"Almuth & Rita" is a German television film from 2014, so this one is over five years old already now and maybe, depending on when you read my review, it is getting closer to its tennth anniversary already. It's really the usual when it comes to German small screen releases with the contents,, but also the running time of minimally under 1.5 hours. The director is also pretty experienced when it comes to German television films. Nikolai Müllerschön was in his mid50s at that point and and he made films since the early 1980s apparently, so maybe if he works for another decade, slightly over, he could even be 50 years in the industry. In (t)his case, it is nothing really to be proud of though. Pretty shocking that when you're closing in on 60, this is the quality you come up with. Also he was in charge of the sequel from two years later, but let's hope that this was it in terms of this franchise. Seems unlikely there will be a third film, even with both lead actresses still alive and working. These would be Senta Berger and Cornelia Froboess. The former is pretty famous here in Germany and the latter also far from unknown. However, neither is particularly talented. Neither has much range or versatility and all they rely on is basically their body of work as well as recognition value. Then again, people may take it as motivating if untalented actresses like these two have a career in the industry for many decades, then you don't need to be Pacino to make it work and make a living off acting in the long run. Froboess profited a bit from being likable in this film, which does not make her a better actress either though, but Berger I cannot say anything positive about. She literally plays the exact same character in every film. Just different names. Relies on heavy make-up, expensive upper class clothing and a background of a successful professional life that is more about using your brains than using your hands. Froboess' character is close to the opposite to that, the simple woman who still has heart in the right place and helps Berger's character to ease up in the process. Of course, she also needs to have her own demons, but still seems to take life as it happens and be good-spirited and easy-going.
Now a few words on scenes and inclusions that were so horrible that I would say this film deserves the worst possible rating out there. It already starts with a phone conversation from Berger's character. And even something simple as that, they got completely wrong. This is not how people talk on the phone. She talks so quickly that there is no way the person on the other end of the line even could have said what they imply he/she said. Ridiculously bad. Luckily with Froboess' phone scene considerably later, they're doing a better job. Oh I mentioned Berger's age indirectly earlier already, but here it is ridiculous how, even with all the make-up, we are suppose to think that her film mother here is 20 years younger or so when the real age difference is five years. There are two or three other elderly actresses in this film aside from the protagonists. Next nonsense inclusion: the dog. Luckily the film is not serious enough for the dog to die as it often happens, but the elaboration on how Berger's character despises the dog early on and not much later asks if she can go for a walk with the dog is just so unrealistic. Her talk with her daughter caused that? I don't think so. Unrealistic back-and-forth in terms of emotions is something taht happens frequently here. Just take the pseudo drama and biog argument that always happens 20 minutes before the end when we are supposed to worry that the characters will never find each other again, which would honestly be realistic, but also in these films they are quickly making up and getting along well again. Here, Froboess' character basicalla abducts Berger's and they are sitting in the car joking around. Okay. Admittedly the hugging scene before that was not better either, pseudo-emotional of the worstg kind. Here and there, we get a sex talk reference from Froboess' character that is meant to be funny, but never is. Just like the bedroom reference. Linked to that, we also have two men of course in this movie (can't go without love interests right, no matter how independent the women may be?) that add absolutely nothing and if people complain that there are not enough meaningful female characters in film, then it could not be more true when it comes to male characters and German television. These films are always directed at females, female audiences, so the male characters, even if they are at the core of the story, are poorly-written most of the time. Then again, the females, even if it is all about them, are written equally poor. Quality just sucks in general. As for Berger's character who may be slightly more at the center of this film here than her co-lead, we also have struggling relationships with her daughter and mother, so really too many conflicts here for a film of this running time, but it's still disappointing that they are not getting a single one right. Not surprising though if you know a bit about German television movies from the last 10-15 years. The one thing that is always wrong is the pseudo-important soundtrack. This film is definitely no exception. One thing I wanna say here too is that I find it shocking they even made a sequel to this mess. I saw the sequel and normally it is good if director and leads return, but here it is just as bad and I did not watch chronologically, so saw the sequel first, and let me tell you it is just as bad as this one here and probably depends on my changing perception which I consider worse. This one here is definitely bad. Both are. Okay, you get the message I suppose. Highly not recommended and stay far, far away from this little movie. It should not be shown anymore in fact.
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