Moskau Einfach! (One Way to Moscow) - English + German Review

One-way to Moscow - English

Against the backdrop of the secret-files-scandal of 1989, Lewinsky succeeded in making an actually funny comedy. For an hour and a half, I had my *very Swiss* parents in the cinema next to me cackling at things they recognize from “the old times” and gushing about polit-gossip from “back in the day”. Hilarious (not so much for some of the other viewers shushing them – which might or might not have been me). 

Viktor Schuler, a Swiss police officer, is sent off on an undercover mission in the Zurich Schauspielhaus, where he is supposed to spy upon the theatre ensemble who is allegedly planning some dangerous demonstration against Switzerland. Because naturally artists and actors are all anarchists and are of course secretly terrorists. (The Swiss at that time were afraid of the Russians and wanted to "protect" Switzerland from turning into a totalitarian dictatorship - by spying on more than 900.000 people in their daily lives and creating files of them to oversee their every move, because whoever had a leftist political opinion was THE ENEMY). During the course of his mission, Viktor is then forced to question his and others’ ideologies after he meets the spirited actress Odile who seems to show him an alternate reality of what he and the world could be. 

However, at different points in the second half of the film, it felt like a bad Hollywood rom-com. The emotionality and sappiness were over the top. I felt like the audience in the Schauspieltheater during the recital of the ensemble’s play - who was ooh-ing and aww-ing at the impromptu love scene between Victor/Walo and Odile - was the exact same as the audience who sat in the cinema with me tonight. So I guess Lewinsky actually managed to pull off a realistic portrait of my country, with all the things I hate about it included. 

It would have been of interest to show less of the over-stylised love story and more of the secret-files-scandal or more of the comedy. Or just make it less emotional, but I guess that might just be my taste getting in the way of objectivity here. The film doesn’t need to make the polit-historical backdrop the main thing in this movie. The aim of this film was, I believe, to create a comedy set at that time. And that it did perfectly fine. 

At this point, I want to compliment the film on its cinematography. Some shots are genuinely nicely done,  to watch. The coloring and tone of the movie are aesthetically pleasing. 

I believe that this movie is enjoyable even if you’re not Swiss. However, knowing the country and its customs – sometimes quirky, odd and yes, frustrating, but I shouldn’t make this a sociological analysis – is certainly a plus when watching this. A film such as Bong Joon-Ho’s Parasite may just as well be as international but seems more approachable or even universal than Moskau Einfach in its themes and conventions (Yes, I know you can’t compare these two movies).

So, go watch this if you’re Swiss – always fun to see what your own country is up to – or go see it if you’re not Swiss but want to acquire some new material to mock Switzerland with. It’s got all the clichés you will already have heard of (sketchy bank deals, funny language, laughable policemen, all the red tape) and even more to stock up on. 


Moskau Einfach – Deutsch

Mit dem Fichen-Skandal von 1989 als Hintergrund schafft es Micha Lewinsky eine tatsächlich unterhaltende Komödie zu schaffen. Meine Eltern, selbst zu dieser Zeit in der Schweiz gross geworden, haben während den ganzen eineinhalb Stunden Laufzeit über „die guten alten Zeiten“ getuschelt und über die Politdramen der Zeit getratscht. Für alle Involvierten äusserst amüsant wahrscheinlich, für alle Anderen, unter Anderem für diejenigen, die ihnen böse Blicke zuwarfen (mag ich selbst gewesen sein) vermutlich weniger. 

Viktor Schuler ist ein Schweizer Polizist und wird gedrängt, illegal im Zürcher Schauspielhaus ein Theater-Ensemble zu bespitzeln, das angeblich einen gefährlichen Plot gegen die Regierung plant. Denn, allbekannt, sind ja Künstler und Schauspieler alle Anarchisten und darum sehr wahrscheinlich auch Terroristen. Die Schweiz., um diese Zeit, hatte Angst vor den „bösen“ Russen und wollten sie „beschützen“ vor der anscheinend imminenten Gefahr eine totalitäre Diktatur zu werden. So nahm die Regierung es auf sich, heldenhaft 900'000 Menschen abzuhören und sie im privaten Leben zu überwachen – für die allgemeine Sicherheit im Land – wobei sie Akten von vor allem links-politischen Personen zusammenstellten, die sogenannten Fichen. Während seiner Ermittlung sieht sich Viktor gezwungen, seine und andere Ideologien zu hinterfragen. Er lernt die Schauspielerin Odile Lehmann kennen, die ihm zeigt, was er und die Welt sein könnten.

Die Komödie ist durchaus gelungen, jedoch fühlte sich der zweite Hälfte des Films an wie eine schlechte Hollywood Rom-Com. Der Handlungsbogen der Liebesgeschichte wird überspitzt emotional und kitschig dargestellt. Das Publikum im Schauspielhaus Zürich, das bei der Premiere überschwänglich mitklatschte und mitfühlte bei der Liebesszene zwischen Odile und Viktor, war dasselbe wie bei mir im Kino. Insofern müsste man zugeben, dass Lewinsky hier die Schweiz artgerecht darzustellen wusste. 

Man hätte hierbei die überschwängliche Liebesgeschichte reduzieren können und mehr Fichen-Skandal und Füdlibürgertum hineinmischen können. Aber ich denke, hier steht mein eigener Geschmack meiner Objektivität im Weg. Allgemein ist der Mix gut gelungen. Es muss keine Aufarbeitung des polit-historischen Fichen-Skandals stattfinden. Das Ziel war es, denke ich, eine Komödie, die sich in dieser Zeit abspielt, zu machen. Und genau das ist es. 

Ich bin mir sicher, dass dieser Film unterhaltsam ist, auch wenn man nicht von der Schweiz ist. Trotzdem macht das Meiste erst Sinn, wenn  man mit der Schweiz vertraut ist. Die biederen Büroangestellten und die sogenannte Bourgeois-Bohème der Schweiz sind Archetypen im Land, genau so wie das Aromat, der TipTopf und das „Beefy“ im Silberkugel fast schon Nationalhelden sind. Der ironische Umgang mit diesen Eigenarten der Schweiz ist eben nur dann effektiv, wenn man sie kennt. 

★★★☆☆

Release Date (Switzerland): 13.02.2020

Film Data: Director: Micha Lewinsky - Writer: Micha Lewinsky Plinio Bachmann Barbara Sommer - Cast: Philippe Graber, Miriam Stein, Mike Müller, Micheal Maertens, Oriana Schrage, Fabian Krüger - 99’ - 2020 - Langfilm

Photo and Video: Copyright © 2020 Vinca Film

The Gentlemen

INT. GUY RITCHIE AT HIS MOST GUY RITCHIE - DAY

The Gentlemen is a fun, thrilling and mostly enjoyable 2 hours but, it isn’t without its flaws. After all, it is a Guy Ritchie film. The Gentlemen is a current-day view at British gangsters funnily enough run by an American marijuana kingpin, wow, twisty. Let’s start at the beginning, where most of his films are the weakest. In true Ritchie style, it’s a mess because of the non-linear style. 

We don’t necessarily start at the end or in the middle. What we are treated to is Charlie Hunnam and Hugh Grant bantering and narrating the story but mainly Grant flirting with Hunnam. These two are the main source of context in the film. They explain what’s happening while Grant acts as a slight antagonist, however, the line is blurred between the good and the bad at times.

Colin Farell as Coach and Charlie Hunnam as Ray

While this is happening Grant tells the story. In fact, he’s written it as a script and if Charlie doesn’t buy the script off him, he’s gonna sell off the story to Miramax. Yes, Miramax the company making the movie, maybe I forgot to say this film is slightly meta. 

We follow the story along learning that the big boss Matthew McConaughey wants out. He’s built himself an empire from nothing and now he wants to just live a normal life. This news gains the interest of a number of different rival gangs, after all, he’s the biggest drug lord and marijuana is popping, so everyone wants a piece. 

Matthew McConaughey’s character is similar to Daniel Craig’s character in ‘Knives Out’.  However, instead of putting on the accent, Matthew can just use his natural one and it’s already out of place. His accent throws you off at the start but quickly becomes one of the best components of the film, until Colin Farrel enters the film. So you probably don’t know yet, but there’s a little soft spot in my heart for Colin Farrell. When I say little I mean like my whole heart. Especially when he’s also using his normal accent, it gives me In Bruges memories. 

Each character seems to be an archetype; Colin Farrell’s Coach is a tough softie looking out for his kids, Hugh Grant’s Fletcher is a cocky and confident private investigator and, obviously, McConaughey’s Mickey Pearson is the cool, calm and collective drug lord who’s always two steps ahead. While I’m not usually a fan of characters I’ve seen before, this film has such a complex plot, that it would be too difficult for this twisty story to involve twisty characters so this seemed like a necessary evil.

Henry Golding as Dry Eye and Tom Wu as Lord Gerge

Henry Golding as Dry Eye and Tom Wu as Lord Gerge

Looking at The Gentlemen’s filmmaking techniques, it does use a variety of visual cues but again, it’s Guy Ritchie we’re talking about here. The fast and witty script combined with Ritchie’s visual humor style, keeps the audience entertained even during monologues and exposition. It’s the reminders from Fletcher (Hugh Grant) that the whole story hasn’t actually been told yet and that he’s holding it back that entices you. Ritchie wants you to guess and then when you think you know, he pulls the rug from under you. It’s Michelle Dockey’s character Rosalind Pearson, Mickey’s wife, who puts it perfectly: There’s fuckery afoot.” 

Without getting too much into spoiler territory, the ending is satisfying. Ritchie brings it all together with very little loose ends. It’s not until the last 20 minutes that the confusion stops and you can get a full grasp of everything. I think that this film would have been better when told in order, yet I don’t think anyone else could have pulled off this screenplay than the guy himself, Guy Ritchie, but, that is a benefit of also being the screenwriter and the director I guess. You can do what you want. 

Eddie Marsan as Big Dave, Matthew McConaughey as Micheal Pearson and Charlie Hunnam as Ray

Should you see this film? If you like a crime mystery with a comedic thread holding it together, or if you just want 2 hours of Hugh Grant flirting with Charlie Hunnam, 2 hours of Matthew McConaughey being Matthew McConaughey supreme drug lord and Colin Farrell in a matching jumpsuit, go see this movie.

FADE OUT

★★★☆☆

Swiss Release Date: 27.02.2020

Australian Release Date: 01.01.2020

Film Data: Director: Guy Ritchie - Writers: Guy Ritchie, Marn Davies, Ivan Atkinson - Cast Matthew McConaughey, Colin Farrell, Charlie Hunnam, Michelle Dockery, Henry Golding, Hugh Grant, Jeremy Strong, Brittany Ashworth, Jason Wong - USA - 102’ - Miramax

Gentlemen - Artwork - ov - 01 Teaser OV_700x1000_4f.jpg