Agnes and His Brothers (2004)
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42% of critics liked it
(19 reviews) -
44% of users liked it
(3,974 ratings)
The Tschirn brothers have their share of problems. Middle brother Hans-Jörg (Moritz Bleibtreu of Run Lola Run) is a librarian who neglects his duties in order to ogle every attractive woman that enters his workplace. His clumsy efforts to make conversation with them go nowhere. He takes his… More The Tschirn brothers have their share of problems. Middle brother Hans-Jörg (Moritz Bleibtreu of Run Lola Run) is a librarian who neglects his duties in order to ogle every attractive woman that enters his workplace. His clumsy efforts to make conversation with them go nowhere. He takes his fetishistic peeping a step further, following women into the ladies room so he can sit in the next stall and pleasure himself while he spies on them. Older brother Werner (Herbert Knaup), a successful Green Party politico, would seem to be a bit more together, but his home life is in shambles. His wife, Signe (Katja Riemann of Rosenstrasse), no longer responds to his marital advances, and seems to have an unhealthily intimate relationship with their rebellious teenage son, Ralf (Tom Schilling), who spends much of his time trying to videotape his father's every embarrassment. Younger brother Martin has had a sex change and become Agnes (Martin Weiss). Agnes is a good-natured person, but profoundly unhappy, perhaps stemming from his unfulfilled relationship with an American fashion designer (played by Monster's Ball producer Lee Daniels in a cameo). But Hans-Jörg blames all of their problems on their father, Günther (Vadim Glowna), and can't even bring himself to visit the old man. Agnes and His Brothers, written and directed by Oskar Roehler, was selected by the Museum of Modern Art and the Film Society of Lincoln Center for inclusion in the 2005 edition of New Directors/New Films. ~ Josh Ralske, Rovi
- Directed By
- Oskar Roehler
- Written By
- Oskar Roehler
- Genres
- Art House & International, Drama
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Jun 9, 2006 Limited
- Studio
- First Run
Critic Reviews
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Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune
It's a slick, ambitious movie that doesn't always nail all the many moods and themes it's after. But the actors give it force and depth.
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Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter
The film's outrageousness would be more palatable if leavened with more wit, or if the characterizations possessed more nuances.
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Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly
Writer-director Oskar Roehler spends all his energy on cataloging ''outrageous' behavior, and none on giving the transgressions any meaning.
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Jay Weissberg, Variety
In shuttling between drama and farce, more than a few balls get dropped.
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Gene Seymour, Newsday
There's fierce energy and -- thanks to the performances -- affecting emotion in the movie that almost makes you forget that Rainer Werner Fassbinder told a similar story much better 28 years ago with In a Year with 13 Moons.
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Cast
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Martin Weiss
as Martin/Agnes
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Moritz Bleibtreu
as Hans-Jörg, Hans-Jörg
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Herbert Knaup
as Werner
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Katja Riemann
as Signe
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Tom Schilling
as Ralf
- Susan Anbeh
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Vadim Glowna
as Günther, Günther
- Margit Carstensen
- Lee Daniels
- Marie Zielcke
- Oliver Korittke
- Martin Semmelrogge
- Martin Feifel
- Sven Martinek
