Free Fall-2013
Director Stephan Lacant
Starring Hanno Koffler, Max Riemelt
Scott’s Review #641
Reviewed May 3, 2017
Grade: A-
Free Fall is a 2013 German-language film that is very reminiscent of the highly influential LGBT film, Brokeback Mountain (2005), only set in Germany in the present day.
The loneliness, struggles, and deceit the characters face are similar in both films, and both are arguably bleak overall.
I, however, truly enjoyed this film and appreciated its touching moments and truthful writing.
In the case of Free Fall, as compared with Brokeback Mountain, only one of the male characters is a family man- coming to terms with his sexuality at a very bad time. In contrast, the other male character is more comfortable in his skin.
A case could be made that a similar characterization is apparent in Brokeback. In both films, a love story develops between two men, and outside forces thwart their happiness.
The film is a very good watch, and the love scenes are particularly steamy and emotional.
Marc Borgmann is a young police officer, fresh out of the academy, living with his very pregnant girlfriend, Bettina. They are temporarily staying with Marc’s parents until the baby is born.
Seemingly happy, Marc befriends a recruit, Kay, and they begin a ritual of jogging together in the forest.
Both men are young and handsome and very masculine- an aspect in an LGBT film that I find positive.
Kay is much more brazen about his sexuality than Marc, and they eventually fall in love with the added pressure of their very macho surroundings, and Marc’s pregnant girlfriend to contend with.
Free Fall, as the title implies, is not a cheerful, romantic film as a whole- nor is it completely bleak either.
Yes, Marc and Kay’s love affair has some happy moments, but more often than not they face peril and don’t get much time to relax and enjoy each other.
As circumstances begin to unravel, Marc’s girlfriend slowly suspects something is going on with Marc. Still, when Kay is outed (the film suggests he purposely outs himself) during a gay nightclub raid, their lives spiral out of control.
The film feels very realistic and doesn’t come across as forced or plot-driven. The acting by both principal actors (Koffler and Riemelt) is quite strong, and I buy their attraction instantly.
The scenes where Marc questions whether the pair are buddies while internally fighting his attraction for Kay are excellent and very passionate.
The range of emotions on Koffler’s face is excellent.
Passion comes through in every scene the pair share.
The way many of the supporting characters are portrayed, however, is disappointing, yet also a brutal strength of the film.
Marc’s parents are unsympathetic to both Marc and Kay and are written as stereotypical, anti-progressive, and rigid.
When Marc’s mother catches Marc and Kay kissing, she coldly chastises Marc for being “raised better than that”. In her mind, being gay is bad- the father wholeheartedly shares her beliefs.
Another of the cops in the police academy is written as homophobic. Still, the film wisely writes Marc and Kay exceptionally well, proudly, with none of the unfair effeminate qualities films and television still seem to cling to.
The characters are not written for laughs, nor should they be. They are strong men.
The film wisely throws in a handful of supportive characters, like the police force as a whole- teaching and recognizing diversity and inclusion- and a fellow cop who is supportive of the situation with Marc and Kay, but most of the characters come across as harsh and unfeeling toward same-sex attraction.
The conclusion of the film is slightly disappointing, as the story ends abruptly and in a rather unsatisfying way- rumors of a proposed sequel have circulated about the film.
Shot on a very small budget, the film still needs funding for a follow-up, which hopefully will happen. A nicer (and happier) ultimate resolution would be great.
American LGBT films, sometimes going too much the comical, or worse yet, the sappier route, can take a lesson from this treasure of a German-language film.
Free Fall (2012) is a humanistic, realistic, and brave film that I hope more people experience. The film will resonate with those involved in or sympathetic to the LGBT community.