![]() Schubert gives a stellar performance as the equally self-indulgent and vulnerable Leon. Also watching Felix grow closer with Nadja and Devid leaves Leon feeling unnerved and unsettled, despite his indifference to the simple pleasures of summer they embark on. As the story in Afire begins to unfold, its perspective becomes more heavily reliant on the author’s internal struggles and conflicts.Ĭhronicling Leon’s desperate attempt to continue working on the follow-up to his successful debut novel, Petzold’s script powerfully captures the character’s fear of not continuing his early success leaves him. The dramedy begins as an intriguing, equally balanced portrait of the close friendship between Leon and Felix, before their distinct personalities and views on life quickly begin to shine through and effect their time at the beach house. Notably moving away from presenting the three male characters – Leon, Nadja and Felix – through the gaze of toxic masculinity that has become far to common in dramas in recent years, Petzold’s latest feature is a stellar character study of the ongoing insecurities of fragile masculinity. Through the literal and metaphoric introduction of the earthly elements, particularly water and fire, Afire intriguingly represents how flourishing romantic connections influence all aspects of life, including friendships and creative work. His latest project intriguingly forgoes the themes of his most recent movies, which thrive on textural elements of political, economical, historical or social context, to instead serve as a more relatable romantic character study. The rising temperature leads to an ever encroaching fire in the forest surrounding the cottage, which slowly puts all of their relationships into perspective.Īfire is an intriguing, thought-provoking departure from Petzold’s earlier films, including Transit and Undine. However, the group’s well-being becomes threatened by the dry summer heat. ![]() However, as the days pass, Leon’s feelings begin to change, as he finds himself become more intrigued by Nadja. Leon is initially upset by many of her actions, including the fact that she plays music late at night and invites her new romantic interest, Devid (Enno Trebs), to join them on frequent occasions. But the trip takes an unexpected turn when they arrive at Felix’s family’s cottage by the Baltic Sea they discover that Nadja (Beer), the niece of one of Felix’s mother’s co-workers, is already staying there.īut to Leon’s dismay, Felix agrees to allow Nadja, who works as a seasonal food worker at the nearby beach, to stay with them. Afire marks the third collaboration between the filmmaker and his muse, actress Paula Beer, after they worked together on the 2018 sci-fi drama, Transit, and the 2020 fantasy drama, Undine.Īfire follows Leon and his friend, photographer Felix (Langston Uibel), as they embark on a seaside vacation together to work on their latest respective projects in isolation. The movie, which is in German with English subtitles, was written and directed by German auteur, Christian Petzold. However, along the way he also embarks on a journey of self-reflection when he witnesses how his aloof behavior is alienating him from the very relationships he longs for, for both his characters and himself. ![]() The author initially embraces his somewhat pretentious nature as he chases his next literary success. That’s certainly the case for actor Thomas Schubert’s character of writer Leon in the new ensemble romantic dramedy, Afire. Embracing emotional growth after enduring a harrowing crisis in a seemingly tranquil setting is one one of the most fulfilling arcs for characters who don’t initially view themselves to be as provocative as those closest to them. ![]()
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