32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wickedly Funny and Thought Provoking, August 31, 2002
German playwright Bertolt Brecht felt that theatre should teach the audience certain moral lessons, and to this end he developed a mode of presentation frequently described as "theatre of alienation"--a type of production in which the audience is never allowed to fully indentify with the characters and their situations and is instead asked to critically observe the material and draw conclusions from it. For the most part, this is a style that works best on the stage--but director Michael Verhoeven uses it as a springboard for THE NASTY GIRL. And the result is one of the few instances in which these Brechtian concepts come successfully to the screen.
The story is wickedly funny. A bright young lass, the daughter of two teachers, wins an essay contest--and when the next contest is announced she again decides to compete, this time with an essay on "My Hometown During The Third Reich," in which she plans to show how her small Bavarian town resisted Nazism. But few, even those regarded by the townfolk as heroes of that era, are willing to discuss it--and those that do provide conflicting information. She eventually gives up the project, but it continues to fester in the back of her mind, and some years later when she resumes her research with the idea of writing a book she discovers that the anti-Nazi heroes were not, perhaps, either anti-Nazi or heroic.
The main thrust of the film centers upon Sonja's relentless battle against the powers that be to obtain access to documents from the Nazi era, and how civic leaders work to frustrate her--both by persistently dodging her demands for the material and by direct terrorism. But their resistance makes Sonja all the more determined, and she becomes willing to pay any personal price. Ultimately, she does arrive at some of the truth, only to discover that she has now been enshrined by civic leaders as a "hero" in an effort to silence her with praise.
Director Michael Verhoeven presents the story in an odd mix of documentary and theatrical and realistic styles that mesh extremely well to create that famous Brechtian effect without ever actually seeming preachy. And leading actress Lena Stolze, as "the nasty girl" who accidentally drifts into the role of advocate for the truth at any price, is equally remarkable: she gives a very likeable, bemused performance that draws the viewer in even while maintaining the necessary degree of detachment the style requires. Not all viewers will appreciate the film--some will find the subject too dark, others may not be able to buy into the style--but this is a brilliant film, and you owe it a chance. Strongly recommended.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
One Of My Favorite Movies, May 30, 1999
By A Customer
This is one of my favorite movies that I have watched countless times ever since I purchased it. It's got a great plot along with good acting. The movie's plot deals with how a girl researched and uncovered a lot of history that the town folks would rather have kept hidden and buried, regarding the role the German town took during World War II. Lena Stolze does a great job in the lead role. This is one of the best German movies I've ever seen. The only thing that should be changed is the title of the movie. It's misnamed. The title is very misleading and more than likely keeps people from viewing this. But other than that, this is a great movie that's also funny that you can watch over and over. Totally recommended.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A polarizing film for some, but perfect for me..., July 1, 2002
Ahh. Germany has changed in the early '60s, trashing the ghost of Hitler's Third Reich. But has it really? Bright young Sonja researches the history of town of Pfilzing, to tell the story of how one German town resisted Nazi fascist ideas. The more she pushes, the more she learns a sad reality - in Germany's monumental tragedy, there were few true innocents.
The people of her town are not evil by any means, but their resistance to Sonja becomes increasingly aggressive, as they try to forgive the sins of their parents. The town is haunted by shame - shame is the central idea of the film. Pfilzing denies the past and protects the guilty. It is a town that cannot be free. And the promising student who sees this can only be called "A Nasty Girl"...
Like Sonja herself, this film has a way of getting under many viewers skin. Many reviewers - including Roger Ebert - admire the story but feel the arty "New German Wave" edits/art design clash badly with the subject matter. I could not disagree more. The story is unusually strong, so I suppose a somber po-faced approach might have made for an equally good film. But that would take out all I loved in this movie, making it a typical Holocaust film. The creative edits, avante-garde art design and cinematography create a world full of surprise and humor. By showing the comedy of life, you see how wonderful life is. And the fact that so many German Jews are not there to see it or share it, the tragic message comes clear. This movie may dare to smile - but the shadow of history is in every frame.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
