Die Standesbeamtin (2009) Reviews

• Smart, witty & charming

  johno-212010-02-17

  I saw this last month at the Palm Springs International Film Festival and of the 23 films I saw there this year this would be in my top three. A delightful romantic comedy from writer/director Micha Lewinsky and co-written by Jan Preuss and Anna Luif this is a fun little film and well worth seeing. It likely will get distribution in American art house theaters. Rahal Hubli (Marie Leunberger) works as a civil registrar in the village courthouse and her primary function there is to conduct justice of the peace-type wedding ceremonies as it is one of the courthouse's biggest means of revenue. She has a mundane life and a mundane marriage to Thomas (Beat Marti) and is the mother of a son (Luca Majek). One day, her former boyfriend Ben Hofer (Dominique Jann) who also used to be her songwriting partner when they were a local duo, shows up with his glamorous girlfriend Tinka Panzer (Oriana Schrage) and announce they want to get married in a civil ceremony away from the limelight of the big city. Tinka is a famous actress and Ben is a fading rock star and the two of them are the glamor tabloid couple flavor of the week. Ben might revive his career with a marriage to Tinka but he still has feelings for Rahal that have reawakened. A great cast, especially Leunberger and a great supporting role from her co-worker (Jennifer Schmid). This is light fare and predictable but it works. And even though there may not be as much chemistry between Leunberger and Jann they do make a believable couple. Great use of supporting characters and a fast paced charming and witty story. Not too cerebral or too ridiculous and though not too full of belly laughs this is what a romantic comedy should be. Romantic and funny. I would give this a 9.5 out of 10 and highly recommend it.

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