Almost a full year since it had its premiere in Berlin, despite stops in Seattle, NYFF and AFI, Maren Ade’s Everyone Else might, at least in my eyes, be the title with the most clout this year that is still flying low on the radar. The Cinema Guild folks might change that perception as they’ve picked up the rights to the pic for release sometime next year. For those who aren’t familiar with the filmmaker, I strongly suggest this detour.
The film centers on Chris and Gitti, a perfectly happy couple enjoying their Mediterranean vacation. But beneath their playful romps, secret rituals and silly habits lies an underlying tension. Full of verve, the idiosyncratic Gitti is fearless in expressing her love and devotion for Chris, while Chris is more reserved in his outlook on life. When they casually run into another, obviously happier and more successful couple their fragile relationship destabilizes. But as their fears and insecurities are brutally exposed, Chris and Gitti get a rare opportunity to discover themselves and each other and to be as happy as everyone else.
