Kino Kontrovers 6: Antares - Studies of Love - DVD

Film: The life of nurse Eva (Petra Morzé) seems at first glance to run in good and harmonious courses. Whether as a wife, mother or at work, she always fulfills her everyday life with routine composure. But Eva has completely different desires and fantasies, which she lives out in an affair with the doctor Tomasz (Andreas Patton). It was supposed to be just sex, but gradually the meetings change Eva's attitude to life and her marriage.

At the same time, supermarket cashier Sonja (Susanne Wuest) finds herself plagued by bitter fears of loss. Her biggest fear is that her boyfriend Marco (Dennis Cubic) might leave her. Sonja doesn't realize that her almost pathological jealousy could cause just that. But there is something that could save their relationship: a child. But a fatal lie could throw a spanner in the works of this plan as well.

Realtor Alex (Andreas Kiendl) is also fighting for his relationship. However, it seems to be too late for that, as his girlfriend Nicole (Martina Zinner) has already left him some time ago. But Alex can't let go of the single mother and keeps showing up at her place. And his desperation increases from time to time, until it comes to a fatal incident...

In Antares - Studies of Love director Götz Spielmann (Revanche) tells three stories that approach in different ways topics such as love, loneliness or fear of loss. With great realism Spielmann creates a rather bleak picture of a world in which love and happiness seem to have no place. For example, Eva's marriage is superficially filled with harmony and mutual love. But the affair with Tomasz, which is based only on ego-related lust and not on deeply felt emotions, reveals that the family idyll existed only superficially. Particularly in this story arc, the convincing, but also particularly courageous performance of actress Petra Morzé must be appreciated, who lends a certain naturalness to the very explicit sex scenes. The sex between Eva and Tomasz is passionate and erotic, but it surprisingly doesn't really come across as voyeuristic (although voyeurism certainly plays an important role).

But Susanne Wuest's performance, dominated by quiet hopelessness, also leaves a lasting impression. It is these acting performances, extremely strong in their authenticity, that, in combination with the intensely restrained direction, make Antares - Studies in Love a gripping piece of Austrian arthouse cinema. Admittedly, the film does not quite have the force that Spielmann was able to generate in his follow-up film Revanche. And even if the characters and the world that surrounds them seem to lack emotional warmth, it's still hard as a viewer not to be moved by the glimpse into their lives.

Sure, the worn, convoluted production doesn't necessarily make the drama easy feel-good fare for Saturday afternoons. If it did, the film certainly wouldn't have made it into the Kino Kontrovers series. But who likes to deal with somewhat difficult, but in its bleakness deeply human dramas, can confidently access here. Worth seeing!

Picture + Sound: The very clean picture can score with its atmospheric coloring and a pleasant degree of sharpness. The sound remains rather restrained for long stretches, but seems a little more powerful in the DTS mix than in the good Dolby Digital 5.1 mix. Good!

Extras: In addition to the booklet with an essay on the film and a conversation with director Götz Spielmann, the DVD still has a little over 20minütiges Making of and the trailer to offer the film. Good!

Conclusion: Antares - Studies of Love is an episodically told drama about loneliness, longings, love and despair. Skillfully director Götz Spielmann weaves the three stories together and despite all the drama and desolation does not leave the viewer with a complete sense of hopelessness. The DVD, released in the series Kino Kontrovers, is technically well realized and offers the viewer a few extras worth seeing or reading. Recommendable

An article by Frankfurt-Tipp