- Year: 2019
- Country: Germany
- Director: Fatih Akin
- Starring: Jonas Dassler
In my opinion, Fatih Akin is one of the world’s greatest living film directors. Films like The Edge Of Heaven, Soul Kitchen, and especially Head-On are some of the best of the last 15 years or so. I really, really wanted to like this new one, The Golden Glove. The true story Fritz Honka, a serial killer from Hamburg who murdered 4 prostitutes between 1970-1975, the film spares no levels of grimness. Honka was a truly deranged individual who also suffered from extreme alcoholism. The movie mostly takes place in 1974, and The Golden Glove is the name of the bar/shithole where he would find his victims (always older women). Unfortunately, the film often can’t decide what it wants to be: from the dark and extremely violent scenes at Honka’s filthy apartment where the acts were committed and he hid the bodies, to casual conversations between the low-lives at The Golden Glove, it is extremely inconsistent and as a result often makes one lose interest. As Honka, Jonas Dassler is stunning – the 23 year old actor plays the part with complete abandon, and the Makeup Department deserves special mention for making him look so convincingly like the 40 year old murderer. When the film succeeds it is because of Dassler and the most excellent re-creation of Hamburg in 1974 – amazing set designs, costumes and again, makeup. It is technically flawless. Akin just couldn’t seem to decide what movie he wanted to make and that lack of focus where I’m somewhat watching Henry:Portrait Of A Serial Killer but also a drama about its supporting characters is extremely awkward at times. And worst of all, kind of boring too.
Cinema Del Peppel 