Amelia

As the first woman to cross the Atlantic in an airplane, Amelia Earhart became a legend. After establishing herself in the previously male-only world of aviation, she became a national and worldwide celebrity in 1928. Now, in her latest film "Amelia", director Mira Nair sheds light on arguably the most important period in Amelia Earhart's career, which came to an abrupt end in 1937.

It wasn't just her successes as a pilot that made Amelia (Hilary Swank) legendary. It was also her personality that people could not escape. This was true not only for those in her immediate circle, especially her husband, editor and PR pioneer George P. Putnam (Richard Gere), and her lover Gene Vidal (Ewan McGregor). Americans still reeling from the Great Depression were also infected by Earhart's optimism and positive mentality. But when Amelia sets out on her greatest adventure yet in 1937, things take a tragic turn...

"Amelia" is a visually beautiful film whose images undoubtedly belong on the big screen. The cast is also compelling, from Oscar winner Hilary Swank to Richard Gere to Mia Wasikowska of "Alice in Wonderland" fame. But even if these elements are right, the overall picture doesn't really convince. This is primarily because Nair loses herself too much in boring dialogues in her film, instead of giving more space to the more captivating aspects of Earhart's life. For example, there is far too superficial an examination of how difficult it was for her, as a woman, to be taken seriously as a pilot. And the mystery surrounding her disappearance, which remains unsolved to this day, is only mentioned in a text panel at the end of the film. Much more could have been made out of the flight sequences, which are really wonderfully realized in their approach.

But the viewer has to be content instead with watching Amelia in her lengthy deliberations about which man suits her better, George or Gene after all? The camera accompanies the aviation pioneer to parties, flight events and much more. But unfortunately all this remains too superficial to entertain for almost two hours. Beautiful pictures and good actors don't stand a chance against the overpowering boredom that dominates the action. Given the potential that Amelia Earhart's biography offers, that's just a shame. Therefore applies: only with clear restrictions just worth seeing!

An article by Frankfurt-Tipp