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Film: Phillip (Bastian Trost) leads his life according to clear rules. The morning wake-up call of the ironing machine, the dreary job as a bill checker in the basement of the central bank and his visits to a bar with a cabaret stage, which he himself does not dare - although he dreams of making it big as a mime. Phillip has little in common with other people. Only his only friend - and psychiatrist - Aaron (Andreas Patton) offers him something like social interaction. Then Phillip meets the blind cellist Lina (Katharina Schüttler) and his clearly defined everyday life is shaken. Although the two keep clashing, the young woman exerts an unbelievable attraction on the slowpoke. When his entire apartment, including the turtle, but exclusive ironing machine is cleared out, Phillip must finally allow change in his life...

With "Ganz nah bei dir" director Almut Getto ("Fickende Fische") has shot a love story of a very special kind. Phillip, who, like his turtle Paul, likes to retreat into his shell whenever possible and avoids social interaction whenever possible, is not a particularly likeable character per se. However, it was important to Getto that the audience like him, not necessarily with their minds, but with their hearts. Thanks to the script and the wonderful performance by Bastian Trost ("Sleepers", "The Lives of Others"), she succeeded in doing just that. And that is exactly what then contributes significantly to the fact that the film works so well.

But not only the script and the good actors, but also the unobtrusive, but very concise visual language is an element that contributes a not insignificant contribution to the fact that the film gives a very coherent overall picture in the end. Alone the décor of the very different apartments of Phillip and Lina, but also the rather creepy looking bar with cabaret stage, but also Phillip's bleak workplace transport a very special mood that quickly captures the viewer.

Phillips sometimes very strange behavior, such as when he insists on the distant "Sie" during his sessions with Aaron , but immediately switches back to the familiar "Du" when building model airplanes together, does not make it easy for the viewer to identify with the main character. Especially since his interest in the lives of his fellow human beings is virtually zero, he hardly notices how much Aaron suffers from his repeatedly cheating wife. But the more Phillip lets Lina and her, despite her handicap, completely carefree nature into his life, the more the cranky loner grows on you.

"Ganz nah bei Dir" may not be a film for the masses, for that the staging, but also the acting of the actors is too clearly aimed at an audience accustomed to art house cinema fare. But exactly these viewers will have a lot of fun with this multiple award-winning film. Therefore, if you are looking for small, original and well-acted art house cinema from Germany, you will definitely find it here!

Picture + Sound: The picture of the DVD is clean, has a good overall sharpness and a color scheme appropriate to the atmosphere of the film. The sound is discreetly mixed with restraint, so it certainly lives up to the film's standards. Good!

Extras: As bonus material, there is the film as an audio film version for the blind and a trailer show of the provider. In addition, there are almost 17 minutes of interviews with the director and the actors.

Conclusion: "Ganz nah bei dir" is a worthwhile little film that proves to be a good mix of romantic comedy and drama. For lovers of German arthouse cinema, the film is quite recommendable, if only because of the good actors. Technically, the DVD can also convince, the addition of the audio film version is also a commendable addition

An article by Frankfurt-Tipp