I was slightly surprised to see this rather mediocre German social-drama having reached the US video stores. Less surprising was that Moritz Bleibtreu was promoted as "star of 'Munich'" (which is true – he did have a 30 second appearance) and some critics witty line, "Freud filtered through Fassbinder". Ironically, the line is true: Fassbinder wasn't a particularly good or interesting director and Sigmund Freud's theories are rather outdated.
The story revolves around the Tschirner clan, what, consisting of neurotic transsexuals, sex-addicts and paedophiles, all hidden behind the facade of an average middle-class German family.
The dysfunctions within the family seem at all times beyond hope or redemption and none of the characters are remotely sympathetic, likable, even completely comprehensive (unless perhaps you're from a similar background, in which case you might not even want to watch this film in the first place). "Agnes and his brothers" simply isn't a pretty film nor is it a film that will leave you feeling better if you happen to watch it when you feel down. Most importantly: it doesn't tell us anything new.
What can be said about the acting? Well, the main focal points of the film being Martin Weiss as Agnes and Moritz Bleibreu as his sex-addict brother, neither performance comes across as completely convincing. Especially Bleibtreu, at the time hailed as the new hope of German cinema, seems stuck with a limited repertoire. Weiss on the other hand proves that he can convincingly wear a frock and woman's make-up – that doesn't make an actor but explains why this has remained his last appearance on the big screen (with the exception of the children's movie "Nick Knatterton").
Herbert Knaup, playing the oldest brother Werner and member of the Green Party, still has the best part in the movie – although the scene where he, in a grand-gesture, defecates on a piece of paper and ceremoniously carries his "product" away, seems to say more about this type of movie making than about his own schizophrenic behaviour.
As said, if you're looking for a film to drag you down or tell you time and again about the rotten times we leave and if you're looking for the most sanctimonious endings in recent European cinema, this may be for you.
The story revolves around the Tschirner clan, what, consisting of neurotic transsexuals, sex-addicts and paedophiles, all hidden behind the facade of an average middle-class German family.
The dysfunctions within the family seem at all times beyond hope or redemption and none of the characters are remotely sympathetic, likable, even completely comprehensive (unless perhaps you're from a similar background, in which case you might not even want to watch this film in the first place). "Agnes and his brothers" simply isn't a pretty film nor is it a film that will leave you feeling better if you happen to watch it when you feel down. Most importantly: it doesn't tell us anything new.
What can be said about the acting? Well, the main focal points of the film being Martin Weiss as Agnes and Moritz Bleibreu as his sex-addict brother, neither performance comes across as completely convincing. Especially Bleibtreu, at the time hailed as the new hope of German cinema, seems stuck with a limited repertoire. Weiss on the other hand proves that he can convincingly wear a frock and woman's make-up – that doesn't make an actor but explains why this has remained his last appearance on the big screen (with the exception of the children's movie "Nick Knatterton").
Herbert Knaup, playing the oldest brother Werner and member of the Green Party, still has the best part in the movie – although the scene where he, in a grand-gesture, defecates on a piece of paper and ceremoniously carries his "product" away, seems to say more about this type of movie making than about his own schizophrenic behaviour.
As said, if you're looking for a film to drag you down or tell you time and again about the rotten times we leave and if you're looking for the most sanctimonious endings in recent European cinema, this may be for you.