Jerichow

Directed by Christian Petzold, Jerichow follows ex-soldier Thomas (Benno Fürmann) as he strikes up a friendship with a sketchy businessman (Hilmi Sözer’s Ali) and soon finds himself falling for the man’s wife (Nina Hoss’ Laura). It’s perhaps not surprising to discover that Jerichow has been hard-wired with as deliberate a pace as one could possibly envision, as Petzold delivers a meandering slice-of-life drama that benefits quite substantially from the three leads’ stirring efforts – with Fürmann’s fairly commanding turn as the picture’s protagonist certainly standing as an ongoing highlight. And although Petzold has peppered the proceedings with a handful of captivating sequences (eg Thomas and other migrant workers harvest cucumbers), Jerichow’s arms-length midsection makes it awfully difficult to wholeheartedly (or even partially) connect to the hero’s meandering exploits. It’s clear, then, that the picture does improve as it becomes more and more clear where it’s going (ie the whole thing morphs into a familiar yet engaging thriller, basically), with the third act and closing stretch certainly packing a far more suspenseful and tense vibe than one might’ve anticipated – which ultimately does confirm Jerichow’s place as an erratic yet ultimately rewarding little drama.

**1/2 out of ****