The Farewell (2002)
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71% of critics liked it
(14 reviews) -
30% of users liked it
(354 ratings)
Infused with a mood of apprehension and decay, this film concerns theatrical luminary Bertolt Brecht (played by Josef Bierbichler) and his inner circle on the final day of their summer vacation in 1956. Set entirely in Brecht's summer house in the East German countryside, the guests consist… More Infused with a mood of apprehension and decay, this film concerns theatrical luminary Bertolt Brecht (played by Josef Bierbichler) and his inner circle on the final day of their summer vacation in 1956. Set entirely in Brecht's summer house in the East German countryside, the guests consist largely of the writer's lovers, past and present. Brecht's wife Hellene Weigel (Monika Bleibtreu) -- Helli for short -- has taken a remarkably charitable view of her husband's philandering. Brecht's current mistress, young actress Kathe Reichel (Jeanette Hain) is one of their guests, along with political dissident Wolfgang Harich (Samuel Fintzi) and his wife, who is having an affair with Brecht with her husband's approval. Also, there is ex-lover and dissolute drunk Ruth Berlau (Margit Rogall); Brecht's editorial assistant, Elisabeth Hauptmann (Elfriede Irrall); and the playwright's teenaged daughter, Barbara. Each guest angles to garner Brecht's attention. Preparing to leave for a rehearsal in Berlin, Helli is visited by a young Stasi officer who informs her that Wolfgang will be arrested and charged with treason. Fearing for her husband's bad heart, she entreats the apparatchik to do the deed after Brecht has left. As arrangements are made behind Brecht's back, a feeling of doom soon pervades the cottage. This film was screened at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi
- Directed By
- Jan Schütte
- Written By
- Klaus Pohl
- Genres
- Drama, Art House & International, Comedy
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Jan 16, 2002 Limited
- On DVD
- Jul 19, 2005
- Studio
- New Yorker Films
Critic Reviews
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Marta Barber, Miami Herald
A gentle film about a lion of a man who, as a communist, was forced to leave Germany, lived almost penniless in Europe and America during the war and returned to his homeland in 1948.
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John Anderson, Newsday
Intelligent, caustic take on a great writer and dubious human being.
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V.A. Musetto, New York Post
The movie is full of fine performances, led by Josef Bierbichler as Brecht and Monica Bleibtreu as Helene Weigel, his wife.
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Stephen Holden, New York Times
Extremely well acted.
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Leslie Camhi, Village Voice
Poignant and delicately complex.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Josef Bierbichler
as Bertolt Brecht
- Monica Bleibtreu
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Jeanette Hain
as Kathe Reichel
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Elfriede Irrall
as Ellisabeith Hauptmann
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Margit Rogall
as Ruth Berlau
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Monika Bleibtreu
as Helene Weigel
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Tilman Gunther
as Man with Hat
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Paul Herwig
as Weckwerth
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Birgit Minichmayr
as Barbara Brecht
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Samuel Fintsi
as Wolfgang Harich
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Rena Zednikowa
as Isot Kilian
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Claudius Freyer
as Palitzsch
- Rena Zednikova
- Samuel Fintzi
