Jacob's Brother - DVD

Film: Years ago Jacob (Klaus J. Behrendt) turned his back on his family and built a new life for himself in the north. But now Jacob's brother Lorenz (Christoph Maria Herbst) is at his door, asking him to accompany him home. Their mother (Hannelore Elsner) is suffering from Alzheimer's and needs the help of her two sons. Reluctantly, Jacob agrees. The journey home becomes more and more a journey into their own past for the brothers. But it is the encounter with a young hitchhiker (Sophie Rogall) and the resulting dynamics of the unequal trio that force the once inseparable brothers to finally confront their deep-seated conflicts.

Jacob's Brother is a charming road movie that pleasantly stands out from the crowd of German arthouse productions with its balanced mix of understated humor and moving moments. The story of Jacob and Lorenz's childhood, told in flashbacks, is very hauntingly staged and makes up the more dramatic part of the film, while the brothers' turbulent journey is repeatedly interspersed with very humorous and endearing moments.

The film is carried not only by the good script, but also by the two excellent lead actors, with Christoph Maria Herbst making a particular impression here. If Herbst was always identified with his role of Stromberg and similar characters, he is able to show a much more layered performance here. Certainly, Lorenz is also a typical Herbst character in many respects. But especially in the quieter, dramatic moments, the actor shows that he can not only provide good laughs, but also knows how to touch the hearts of the audience.

In the cinema, Jacob's brother has unfortunately been almost completely ignored. Yet not only the actors, but also the good camera work would have thoroughly deserved to discover this film on the big screen. But also in the home cinema the whole thing works very well. Lovers of German comedies of the slightly more sophisticated kind and entertaining arthouse dramas, should definitely not miss this beautiful story. Worth seeing!

Image + Sound: The image is clean and has good overall sharpness. The color scheme is a bit reduced, which is why the image seems a bit undercooked overall, but this works well with the atmosphere of the story. The sound is very restrained for long stretches, but appropriately well realized for the action.

Extras: Unfortunately, the DVD has no extras to offer.

Conclusion: Jacob's Brother is a beautiful tragicomedy that is compelling with quiet humor, haunting drama, and plenty of understated emotion. The great cast and engaging direction almost make you forget the lack of any extras on the DVD. Absolutely recommended for lovers of German arthouse films and sophisticated comedies!

An article by Frankfurt-Tipp