Review of Lola

Lola (1981)
7/10
fable of the incorruptible man
23 May 2016
It's 10 years after the war in West Germany. Lola (Barbara Sukowa) is a lounge singer/prostitute at a bordello run by corrupt builder Schuckert, the father of her daughter. Herr von Bohm (Armin Mueller-Stahl) is a new righteous building commissioner and Schuckert needs to add three floors to his building. Esslin works under von Bohm and is the corrupt mayor's man. Lola's mother is von Bohm's landlady. Lola seduces von Bohm as proper lady with her real name Marie-Louise. When Esslin brings him to the bordello, his incorruptibility is tested.

Barbara Sukowa is terrific as the brassy broad reminiscent of the old classic goddesses like Marlene Dietrich. Armin Mueller-Stahl is always Armin. There are other great performances. This is a morality fable. It has a slightly surreal melodramatic feel. It's all very intriguing.
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