NEWS
Davidson Film Club Presents “Phoenix”
“This is cinema at its most ineffable and its most potent.” Catherine Wheatley, Sight & Sound
Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer: 98%!
Directed by Christian Petzold
Germany (2014, 1h38)
In German with English subtitles
Discussion of the film will be led by Dr. Scott Denham, the Charles A. Dana Professor of German Studies at Davidson College.
*The Davidson Film Club is delighted to announce our return to the Armour Street Theatre! Like so many other venues in our community at this time, we encourage our patrons to wear a mask but do not require it. We will have N95 or KN95 masks available at the door for those who need one.
Phoenix replaces a film in the series interrupted by the onset of COVID-19 in Winter-Spring 2020. Davidson Film Club members at that time may attend this screening and discussion at no charge.
Walk-ins are welcome, $9 at the door, cash or check (no credit cards). Walk-ins must apply for a seat in advance at [email protected]. Walk-in seats are limited by availability.
Film Summary:
A spellbinding mystery of identity, illusion, and deception unfolds against the turmoil of post-World War II Germany in this stunning new film from acclaimed director Christian Petzold. Nelly, a German-Jewish nightclub singer, has survived a concentration camp, but with her face disfigured by a bullet wound. After undergoing reconstructive surgery, Nelly emerges with a new face, one similar but different enough that her former husband Johnny doesn’t recognize her. Rather than reveal herself, Nelly walks into a dangerous game of duplicity and disguise as she tries to figure out if the man she loves may have been the one who betrayed her to the Nazis. Evoking the shadows and haunted mood of post-war Berlin, Phoenix weaves a complex tale of a nation’s tragedy and a woman’s search for answers as it builds towards an unforgettable, heart-stopping climax.
17 wins, 30 nominations. Multiple Best Foreign Language Film, Best Director, and Best Actress (Nina Hoss) awards.
Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus: “Tense, complex, and drenched in atmosphere, Phoenix is a well-acted, smartly crafted war drama that finds writer-director Christian Petzold working at peak power.”
“Bleak and beautiful, it’s a moody drama built on subtle performances and a stunningly well-written script. Setting it apart is an enigmatic ending that allows viewers to come to their own conclusions.” Karen Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
“There is intrigue. There is suspense. Guilt—a man’s guilt, a nation’s—hangs heavy in the air.” Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer
“Both a powerful allegory for post-war regeneration and a rich Hitchcockian tale of mistaken identity.” Jordan Mintzer, Hollywood Reporter
“There is no need to mince words here—Phoenix is an absolutely terrific film. Nina Hoss is superb as usual, following up her incomparable work in Petzold’s Barbara with another Oscar-worthy performance.”
“Hoss gives a startlingly impressive performance as a Holocaust survivor entangled in a devious arrangement where love and hate resides within the same amorphous shadow.” Nicholas Bell, IONCINEMA.com
Our updated website at www.davidsonfilmclub.com features the whole current series (January-June 2022) and film descriptions. Have you Bookmarked it?
We are a non-profit, tax-exempt organization run by volunteers that only exists to bring you fine international fiction films and engage in stimulating discussion about them.
Hope to see many of you on Saturday, April 23, for the discussion of this powerful, thought-provoking film!
Alan
Alan Singerman
President, Davidson Film Club
[email protected]
(704) 231-6736