Red Sky: A Great Cruel Film (review)
A summer film where lightness gives way to cruelty. Christian Petzold’s most accessible film but not the least exciting.
After water, fire. After Ondine, Christian Petzold continues his trilogy around the elements with this Grand Jury Prize in Berlin, born from his desire to make a summer film. But obviously in its own way, far from the lightness and carefreeness usually associated with the genre. And it is precisely the fire which begins to develop around the house near the Baltic where the action takes place which sets the scene. That of an initially invisible threat which will approach this place chosen by two friends for their vacation. Two friends who are completely opposite – Félix, hedonistic photographer and Leon, writer obsessed with his second novel which he cannot finish – and who will be surprised to discover Nadja (Paula Beer, divine) on site, the niece of the owner and her surfer lover. A cohabitation which will be one of all dangers for hearts ready to burst into flames as quickly as the surrounding countryside. The most accessible work of its author, The Red Sky is also a great cruel film around bitterness, built around Leon who will take the central place in the story that he is convinced of having in life. One of those characters that we love to hate (Thomas Schubert, impressive), full of himself, who will miss out on everything precisely because of his inability to look at others. And where consumed by his jealousy for the joyful freedom of Nadja whom he secretly loves while despising her, he will make a series of bad decisions. Throughout a storyline rich in carefully distilled twists and turns, Peztold creates a tragedy that is as moving as it is uncomfortable.
By Christian Petzold. With Thomas Schubert, Paula Beer, Langston Uibel… Duration 1h42. Released September 6, 2023
