Always Drama about Tamara

Always Drama About Tamara"Director Stephen Frears once again proves his versatility: Following his award-winning drama "The Queen" and the romance "Chéri", Frears this time ventures into a comic adaptation that works as both a modern morality tale, a modern adaptation of the Thomas Hardy novel "At the Green Edge of the World" and a romantic comedy.

Life in the picturesque village of Ewedown in the English county of Dorset goes at a quiet, sedate pace. Here the clocks still go a little differently, the idyllic spot has successfully escaped the hustle and bustle of larger cities. And that's why Stonefield Farm is the perfect place for a writer's retreat, where they can not only unwind but also find inspiration for their latest works. But the seeming idyll is abruptly disrupted by the visit of Tamara Drewe (Gemma Arterton), who has returned to her old home from London. Not only does the young woman cause a stir with her far too skimpy outfits. When she starts a relationship with the successful rock star Ben (Dominic Cooper), the small community is turned upside down. And soon it becomes clear that not everything here is as idyllic and civilized as it seems on the surface...

"Immer Drama um Tamara" is, even if the somewhat stupid German title does not exactly suggest it, a really funny and above all clever comedy, which can boast with wonderful dialogues and great actors. The screenplay is based on the excellent cartoon "Tamara Drewe" by Posy Simmonds, which in turn was inspired by Thomas Hardy's novel "Am gründen Rand der Welt" (Far from the madding crowd). What Stephen Frears has conjured from the original is cheeky, a little frivolous and, above all, very British.

The superb ensemble is led by Gemma Arterton ("James Bond - Quantum of Solace", "Combat of the Titans"), who is truly perfectly cast as a big-city sin on two legs. But the rest of the cast has also been more than aptly chosen. The guests of the writer's retreat, in particular, are a wonderful bunch who alone make going to the movies worthwhile. The collection of egos, neuroses and vanities that clash here make for some of the film's best and most amusing moments.

Admittedly, the many different characters and their individual storylines ensure that "Immer Drama um Tamara" feels a little overloaded at times. But Stephen Frears is not considered one of the best British directors ever for nothing. And so it is also thanks to his skill that the comedy is never completely thrown off track even in the most chaotic moments and cleverly ships past flat silliness. Wonderful cinema entertainment, which can be warmly recommended to lovers of noble British comedies!

An article by Frankfurt-Tipp