Fest Track On Sirk TV Film Review: I AM KARL [Berlinale 2021 - Virtual]

The idea of revolution seems to be built out of a norm that is not one's own but it is also relegated within notions of power. In "I Am Karl" [Berlinale Special Gala), director Christian Schwochow examines the culture of what aggression looks like in this new enlightened world. It is an interesting dynamic using a martyr of sorts promoting a sense of the new state. What is interesting is that the discussions of fascism are laid out in the open, and while the dissertation is different, the resulting chaos is the same. Here a tragedy befalls a girl and her family. And one person gets into her thoughts and uses it as a rallying cry for his own movement. Coming from a German director, seeing the notion of fate and path is a very interesting one especially with a gifted orator able to bring the people together using events as a catalyst for subversion painted as community. Maxi, the lead female character, who has been besmirched by a occurrence beyond her control needs people to blame. But by showing tenderness and giving her something to believe in, Karl seems to subjugate her will because he tells her exactly what she wants to hear...and this bolsters connection of hearts. This, of course, is nothing new and truly speaks to the essence of psychology whether it be coming out of a highly elected official's mouth or on a recruiting site for a terrorist organization. The film leaves a couple things in doubt though its inferences in terms of staging points to obvious culprits. The reasons for this group's extremism seem coalesced out of sense of wanting to belong but it simply becomes the ideal of causing chaos out of control. Seeing this in Europe is interesting because there are different concerns and the countries although mostly co-existing in the European Union have shown cracks. But this is not unlike the United States which has its own problems born out of different but very human grievances. This glut of restlessness may be in up in films of late but the stirring is becoming more prevalent, whether for a notion of change or just a reflection of the mindset where the old ways seem that they can't possibly work for the new ways. And yet with all this vitriol and posing, one scene in a tunnel shows the inherent nature of humanity and how just singing a song (in an un-melodramatic way), can make everything still seem possible. B

By Tim Wassberg