Movie Review: Afire

Following his films Phoenix, Transit, and Undine, director Christian Petzold has become one of my favorite filmmakers working today. His films are masterfully made, and he always gets great performances from his actors. His latest film, Afire, continues Petzold’s trend of great movies. But unlike his previous films which took us back to the World War II era or dealt with fantastical romances, Afire is a movie set in the real world that looks at a man who is so inside his head, he can’t see anything that is happening around him.

Afire finds four young people staying at a small house near the Baltic Sea during the summertime when people are out, the beaches are busy, and the sun is shining. Leon (Thomas Schubert) is a writer who is stressed about his newest book and wants to use this vacation to focus and get some writing done. He is brought there by his friend Felix (Langston Uibel), whose family owns the house they are staying in. The two are joined by Nadja (a radiant Paula Beer), a woman who booked a stay at the house at the same time Leon and Felix did, and Devid (Enno Trebs), a lifeguard at the local beach. What starts as a fun and friendly trip begins to become tense and emotional as Leon’s latest book isn’t going as well as he thought and a wildfire in the area lurks closer.

Afire is a movie that seems simple on its surface, but Petzold isn’t a simple filmmaker. This is a complex character study of the human condition. It looks at a group of people who go through several emotions while being couped up in this house: jealousy, envy, love, secrets, happiness, fear, and more run through this home during this weekend, and Petzold slowly reveals these emotions as the movie goes on. Petzold also makes the film quietly suspenseful by building tension in the house while knowing exactly when and how to remind us that there is a large fire raging in the area. The fire is always in the back of our minds, but as soon as we begin to forget about it, Petzold gives us another subtle reminder.

Afire is also about having personal tunnel vision and not appreciating or noticing what is happening around you. Leon is miserable because of how his book is going. He is mean, snippy, and rude. He doesn’t do much with any of his housemates and when he does do something, he mopes around and looks miserable. Leon goes to the beach with Felix and simply sits in the sand wearing dress pants and a cardigan. Because of this, he isn’t focused on anything going on at the house or the small town near the house. He isn’t enjoying the sun and relaxation. He isn’t noticing the way Nadja is trying to grow closer to him. He doesn’t appreciate or help Felix with his thesis assignment for art school. He doesn’t appreciate the views and spending time with friends. Afire is a reminder to not stress about everything in life and to enjoy life while you can because you never know when it’s going to end.

Afire is another stunning film from Christian Petzold. It’s a fascinating film about the emotions four people go through during a weekend at a small house while also reminding us to appreciate life and everything around us. It’s brilliant work from one of the best filmmakers working today.

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