Who Are We? (German)

The makers have been calling this as a four-part episodic film. Set in Vienna, it is a story about the rise and fall – and possible rise again – of two gay couples. Made at a shoe string budget, I am not sure if the film was needed to be split into 4 episodes with intro and end casting every single time, but her whatever. Also, the ending is a bit open. I feel there should be more, but maybe the point is to take the slice of life kinds deal and deal the story take its own course.

We meet two gay couples. Chris and David have ben together for a while. Chris wants to spice up relationship and suggests threesome. Reluctantly David agrees. David has his own start up company with his friend Ralph, while David is a freelance photographer, whose hobby is being sponsored by his rich parents. They find Lukas on a hook up and invite him over the next day. Turns out that Lukas is Ralph's boyfriend. But he is lazy, casual, doesn't work and pretty much living off his boyfriend who is reaching his limit of patience. In the threesome, clearly there is more chemistry between Chris and Lukas and David doesn't want to be part of it anymore. They both meet again next day for a photo shoot and when David finds out about this, he is very upset and accuses Chris of cheating and going behind his back. With feelings developing for Lukas and the urge to find his own success, Chris breaks up with David. Meanwhile, Lukas returns home and has an argument with Ralph. They are both super mad and Lukas just leaves him. Couple days later they meet again and there is obvious passion and they give in. That same night, David and Ralph go out for a drink, get wasted, come back home and end up in bed together. Only then David sees a picture of Ralph with Lukas and put two and two together and the film ends there. We don't know if he ever tells Ralph the truth or keep it a secret.

The film explores the topic of relationships as a gay couple and the constant change that comes with it. Every character experiences change on some level. Lukas needs change but is avoiding it, just by sitting idle at home. Ralph is trying to change Lukas, meanwhile he has been lying about his sexual orientation to his friend and work partner all this time. David hates the idea of change, be it wrk or relationship and is content with the boring monotonous love life. Chris needs change, spiced up life but because he is funded by his parents, never has to worry about money. As we know, they key to a successful relationship is communication and clearly that is missing in this film between the couples. What is not very clear to me as why is Ralph so passive and he takes mental abuse form Lukas. Lukas is hands down the most dislikable character. I don't think that was intention but somehow it comes across as a bad person using his boyfriend, his best friend and eventually Chris when he gets him a job. Probably made at a shoe string budget and shot primarily in three different apartments, the acting and direction are strictly ok. It is one of those pieces, where you can see the earnestness and honestly with which everyone is trying to do their part but the final product just doesn't come across together. Chris and David have absolutely no chemistry. Lukas just keeps making weird expressions and moves his eyes and head constantly. Ralph , is the worst. A cry baby, being bullied around (not in literal sense), he needs to be just shaken up a bit. The only person who has their act together is Lukas' female friend. I wish the film tried to tackle a larger question. If and when the relationships are not working, to what extent should you try to salvage it, or should you just give up? Here. It follows the latter path, but is that the right path? (5.5/10)