#66. Denis Dercourt’s Happy Birthday
Gist: Opening at the beginning of the 1980s in former East Germany, the film centers on Paul who enters into a pact on his 16th birthday with fellow pupil Georg to take care of Georg’s girlfriend Anna. The only condition is that Georg, who unexpectedly has to move away, would get her back whenever he so desires. 30 years pass and Paul and Anna are happily married with two children. Then, one day, Georg suddenly re-appears and is appointed as Paul’s new boss. Has he come back for Anna and what other secrets might come to the surface?
Prediction: French director Dercourt’s intriguing German film stars Saskia Rosendahl, who was named one of the shooting stars of 2013 for her performance in Lore. Dercourt has been steadily working since the late 90s, but is probably best known for his 2006 revenge thriller The Page Turner with Deborah Francois and the astounding Catherine Frot (in an infrequent dramatic turn). We are predicting Directors’ Fortnight.
