Reviews

This German-made documentary tells the story of Albert Uderzo and Asterix. We start by seeing Uderzo, and his country-house, we see small clips from earlier films. We hear Uderzo explain how he works, his relationship with Goscinny, and how he became a comics-artist.

Unfortunately the documentary tends to focus to much on the German aspect of Asterix. This is surely the point of the entire thing, but it's very back and forth and whimsical. It doesn't seem sure what to focus on: 'Germans and Asterix' or 'Uderzo and Asterix' ?

Regardless we get a wonderful insight into how Uderzo works, and his life. I would have liked to have heard even more from Uderzo of how the comics came into place, how he works, and the character, and less of how the comics is translated into German. But then again, it's a German documentary (although there is no other…)

The plot: Writer, Dan Gillis, is hired to write a script for a money obsessed producer and a half-crazed director (and subsequently his sister) He soon realizes something is wrong, and that this film should not have been written. This leads to a confusing, and enigmatic journey trough the dark alleys of Paris. Greed, lust and insanity shows itself at very corner, and the movie becomes more about anything else than the movie itself. We never actually see the movie, and with good reason, instead we are left with an idea of a; half-pornographic, psychotic and depressing storyline. But, as many got wrong, it's not about the movies, the film is about people, their greed, lust and insanity, their madness and they way nothing is as it seems. Beware! It's one of those films where you can't trust anybody (except Jeff of course)

I can't see how nobody likes this. Obviously if you are looking for Die Hard or a commercial action thriller you ARE going to be let down. This is nothing of the sort. It's an: intelligent, fascinating, psychotic, confusing, disturbing and utmost bizarre story. Then again isn't life all those things?

The film is wonderfully executed, with fascinating shots and angels. If I would complain about anything it's the quality of film, and the fact that 90% of all scenes are faded out, which gives it an amateurish feel. But maybe that's what they wanted.

This is a different movie, an almost neorealistic movie, it's a masterpiece of writing, and the acting is superb.

I suggest you set of one evening to see this film. Preferably a dark a rainy night, cause this will scare the living daylight out of you.

One thing a commenter commented was: it constantly leads to something and then stops. Some may not like this, I thought it was incredible. It's slightly Wagnerian! (Lot's of huffs and puffs, lots of build up, and never any release, never any release of the climax, it just lingers in the air until it fades away.)

If you like realistic yet bizarre films, if you like a great story see this!