Western

— It’s easy early on to enjoy the storyline parallels between this Eastern European story and a classic American western. A group of German contractors end up in rural Bulgaria to build a hydroelectric plant, setting the stage for a confrontation with nearby villagers. The Germans aren’t particularly likable and have too much time on their hands when water and gravel are in short supply, letting them spend their time mostly drinking, exhibiting alpha dog behavior, and alienating the locals. Meinhard is the only German who stays on the sideline and doesn't join their activities. Instead, he ventures into town, building friendships in spite of an understandable wariness and the obvious language differences, and becomes something of a bridge between the two groups. It’s not an easy task and at one point, as a climax seems imminent, the head of the work crew even demands Meinhard choose a side. The film unfolds with a wonderful precision and with characters whose depth of feeling unfolds with every glance and look. Even as the “western” conceit is working, it serves to shake things up too. Tensions are simmering through much of the film and, experienced viewers that we are, we ready ourselves to the inevitable violence, often only to find ourselves led in another direction. It’s hard not to ask about motivations, to wonder how Meinhard’s past brought him to this point and what he’s searching for. It’s also hard not to wonder how similar or dissimilar we all our, what had really changed in the 70 some years since the Germans had occupied Bulgaria in the war, and what really constitutes power and strength. Its one of the most interesting films I’ve seen in a while and, although I’m not sure the resolution was adequate for the story, I’m certainly going to keep an eye out for what Valeska Grisebach does next.

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[2017. 121 min. Written and directed by Valeska Grisebach. Starring Meinhard Neumann, Reinhardt Wetrek, and Syuleyman Alilo Letifov.]
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/apr/12/western-review-pastoral-culture-clash-makes-for-years-best-film