Press review for I Shot My Love
Aviva Berlin - Online Magazine
I shot my love - A film by Tomer Heymann
By Nadja Grintzewitsch
This sensitive documentation of a German-Israeli love of men affected by authenticity and detail, and not least a tribute to director Tomer Heymann on his ... Extraordinary mother.
The story itself is quite simple: homosexual director who is up for the premiere of his new film in the German capital, dancers meet in a popular Berlin nightclub.They fall in love, the dancer follows the filmmaker to Israel, where he met his mother. After some initial difficulties, the couple finally pulls together to Tel Aviv.
This woman that work would shine but not nearly do justice. It is not the story that captivates, but rather their unique implementation. The pictures are from the beginning to the end real, not fictitious story, the performers beautifully unaffected, since they themselves embodied. Influenced by his father, the family life with our own 8mm camera has recorded its seven-member, director Tomer Heymann holds obsessively all set in its environment. It seems not a moment goes by where he does not see the world through the viewfinder. These films made the documentary "I shot my love", on 13 February 2010 at the Berlin Film Festival celebrated its world premiere.
An encounter that changed the life
Flashback. In order to present his new film "Paper Dolls", a documentary about Filipino transvestites, visited Tomer Heymann and his mother Noa, the movie capital. 70 years earlier, were his grandparents, the parents of Noah, who emigrated from Nazi Germany to Palestine. After the performance speaks Heymann a few words and gets his mother to the stage. Noa is mid-60s, a little plump, with a chic short haircut and fashionable glasses. Woman is immediately under the spell of ursympathischen bundle of energy, the question of whether their son for still living with her, in broken German said cheerfully: "No, he's already a great man," (laughter), "he lives in Tel Aviv and does what he wants, not what I want."
After the premiere party can Tomer his mother in the hotel and is on its way to the electric sounds in Bergheim Panorama Bar, where he met a young dancer with the police full name Andreas Josef Merk. Like the first meeting goes is unclear. The next scene is already in an apartment or a hotel room, Andrew is a blond, slim, handsome young man with a penchant for singing songs Bertold Brecht in the shower. They communicate in English. The question of whether he was proud to be a German, Andreas answered with a shrug. It would make him at least not a better person. The soundtrack, this first interaction of soft piano tones, Heymann is in the shot, makes close-ups of Andrea's lips. When they meet again is uncertain.
An unusual love triangle
Back in Tel Aviv. The relationship between mother and son is almost disturbingly open. The homosexuality of the son is not a taboo, of course, is completely Noa Heyman love life involved in, may express their opinion. Andreas remains subject. Whether they have a problem with the fact that he was German? Noa's simple answer: "Not all Germans are Nazis nice. And not all Jews." Andreas in Tel Aviv. The next scenes are harmonious, a motley compilation of joint excursions and activities. Herumgealber on the beach, at the Wailing Wall between Orthodox Jews, holding hands through the city. We can only see the blond German films before the camera, Heymann, all in the role of the director. Finally, a scene in the native cuisine, Andreas pancakes before turning the stove. "I saw in a movie when I was little, and then it was always my goal to be able to [...] and to a certain point in my life, I said to myself it easy. Do not hesitate And you may distribute, you know young? If you hesitate, he falls Germans down. "It almost sounds from life motto. He also has not hesitated to follow his lover in a foreign country.
Homage to the mother
And alternating with Noa Heymann. Gradually we learn that the resolute woman had only one man in her life, she moved to the big five sons. After 33 years of marriage they divorced last. Scenes from old footage, recordings of his father. We see family life, Tomer and his brothers playing table tennis, Passover celebrations, a younger Noa Heyman with gray hair yet. Finally, farewell. Three of her sons move to America, one travels from now through the world. At the four wall hanging clock with four different times, Colorado, Texas, Israel. Noa Oregon and Tomer are left alone. Perhaps that explains the intimate relationship between the mother and her director son. Andreas speaks German Noa. They seem to get along with each other. Unforgettable is the scene where her mark of 65 he Birthday of the "Memory of Marie A." sung by Bertold Brecht. A new relationship is for Noa Heyman out of the question that is not a way out of loneliness. ("Why should I now do the old man have one?") Even as she for a serious leg operation in the hospital, is her humor as ever. She joked with the Russian nurses, he wants the Hebrew word for "butt" teach. "At this point we need background music," she exclaims, laughing son to her, go as the men of the ambulance through the hospital corridors. Tomer for her does not differ from the side, also documented their first steps. Noa is crying in pain not once only when she, again at home, gets visited by one of her sons - and he departs after some time. It will tear up an almost heart.
Irreconcilable differences?
Andreas dominated the first Hebrew words, but still communicates with his Israeli lover in English. He gets to know by and by Tomer entire family. At Christmas he had a further meeting in the home, his parents speak with strong southern German accent. It is clear that he is indeed more and more the life-world Heymann adjust to, but the possibility has not, in his own environment in the relationship to bring something. This results in about two years until finally adhere to a conflict. For the first time expressed Noa critical of the relationship of her son. Ask him straight out if they might more on sex than is based on friendship. Points to the cultural differences and communication problems out. "" I think you know what you want - but I'm not sure if this is also true, she reminded the audience. AVIVA-Tip: An exciting, the real-life love story, while the portrait of a strong woman. A film full of unconscious poetry, natural humor and a great title song, the German version by Andreas Merk sung. The surprising twists and turns that lead ultimately to a happy end, will not be betrayed. One can only hope that "I shot my love" soon in the German distribution in cinemas and on DVD is released.