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Initiation

Country: Austria | Germany, Language: German, 95 mins

Original Title

Blutsfreundschaft
  • Director: Peter Kern
  • Writer: Frank Maria Reifenberg
  • Producer: Alexander Glehr; Peter Kern

CGiii Comment

Hungary for teeth, Switzerland for livers and, Casablanca for a sex change...

In this world and in this film, there is so much to admire and so much to despise...

The photography, the soundtrack, the ever-evocative, dignified and polarising Berger...the ambition.

However (and unfortunately), that ambition overextends the budget - with a little more time and money spent, the flaws could have been mended, making this into an extraordinary piece of cinema.

Having said that, this is a deeply emotional journey through contemptible history to contemporary contempt - Nazism and Neo-Nazism have threatened and threaten the very fabric of humanity.

We cried when we watched this...

Peter Kern...you are a visionary.

The song that accompanies the closing scene is, quite possibly, one of the most beautiful songs ever to grace ears.

Your life will not be complete until you have seen this...


Trailer...

The(ir) Blurb...

16-year old Axel and his clique are rioting in a residential home. There he meets the 80-year old Gustav who gains interest in the young boy, as he reminds him of his lost love.

Cast & Characters

Helmut Berger as Gustav Tritzinsky;
Harry Lampl as Axel;
Melanie Kretschmann as Jacob / Christina Thurmer;
Michael Steinocher as Lippi;
Manuel Rubey as Snoopy;
Mathias Franz Stein as Wolfi;
Oliver Rosskopf as Peter;
Sophie Schlichting as Eva;
Heribert Sasse as Willy;
Gregor Seberg as Dr. Kraake;
Jazz Gitti as Die Papstin;
Manfred Schmid as Toni;
Gerhard Liebmann as Passport Inspector;
Stefan Bachmann as Thomas Lorenz;
Christopher Schärf as Erich