The Forest for the Trees

The Forest for the Trees follows a kind-hearted and naive young woman named Melanie (Eva Lobau) as she leaves the safety of her home for a job as a schoolteacher in a city where she doesn’t know anyone. Though she tries her hardest to ingratiate herself to her students, colleagues and neighbors, Melanie seems to have a knack for saying and doing exactly the wrong thing at any given time. Plotwise, that’s about it; the film is content to exist solely as a character study of this socially awkward person. We watch with horror as she systematically alienates virtually everyone she meets, though she doesn’t do any of this intentionally. It’s impossible not to emphasize with Melanie, as she’s beaten down by so many outside forces (her aggressive students, fellow teachers, and even a pony at a petting zoo!) Director Maren Ade does a nice job of imbuing the movie with an appropriately gritty sense of style, while Lobau is amazing in the central role (though we’re often cringing at Melanie’s behavior, Lobau ensures that the character always remains believable). Ade, who also wrote the screenplay, keeps the tone consistent right up until the film’s ludicrous conclusion – which doesn’t make a bit of sense and ends the movie on an inexplicable and unpleasant note of fantasy.

**1/2 out of ****