Birthday | Review

Birthday (part of the Focus on German cinema series at WMFF) is a German production by Swiss film director Stefan Jager. Shot entirely on digital video, this film resembles a documentary video-diary/drama. The premise is simple; four old friends get together after about a decade apart for a 30th birthday. Having all lived and went about with their separate lives; they come together with feelings of awkwardness, of fear, of joy, make the reunion both comfortable and uncomfortable. This initial reunion challenges them to ask themselves new questions about the dynamics of their relationships and possibly the purpose of their own existence. Subsequently, they continue to attend each other’s 30th birthday and continue to struggle with their own emotions. As the plot unfolds, the characters (Bibiana Beglau, Tamara Simunovic, Harald Koch, Claudio Caiolo) begin to feel their way between one another as they continue to struggle with issues from the past and the dynamics of their former relationships, it ultimately pushes them to attain a higher level of honesty. With their new relationships flourishing, secrets come to surface and news feelings begin immerge.

Jager sets up this film in a very disorientating and chaotic manner, which becomes a reference point and continual flashback moment pieced throughout the film. He does not divulge too much, allowing the viewer to walk around the conflicts, to examine the dynamics of the characters and the complexities of their relationships. Throw in a fight, a day at the beach, a suicide attempt and a woman in labour and we have the makings of an edgy film and emotionally-driven film with many of the themes revolving around life, love and death. The choice of film, shooting in digital video suits the film well, it gives it the raw and unglossy look which compliments the focus of the film. My only concern with Birthday, is the use of the video diary moments placed a little bit everywhere in the film, theoretically why would they choose to share these moments with anyone else, especially since they were so reluctant to have anyone from outside the group come close to their inner-circle. There is also the sort of full-circle ending, which I thought was possibly a little too poetic, but overall this is a very good first effort.

Viewed in original language (German) with English subtitles.

Rating 2.5 stars