Old Love at filmforum Duisburg: Big emotions in a small chamber play
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Old Love at filmforum Duisburg: When forty years of marriage are put to the test
A glance, a sharp sentence, a familiar silence – in Old Love, the everyday life of a long-married couple becomes a stage for a clever, bittersweet, and realistic tragicomedy. On Monday, November 9, 2026, filmforum Duisburg will show Andreas Dresen's adaptation of the eponymous novel by Elke Heidenreich and Bernd Schroeder.
A chamber play about closeness, friction, and new beginnings
When their daughter plans to marry for the third time, the old balances start to shift. Behind the pointed dialogues lie unspoken questions, old jealousy, and the anxious question of whether a new beginning remains possible even after the age of sixty. The dramaturgy blends laconic humor with quiet moments of vulnerability.
Dagmar Manzel and Joachim Król: Acting artistry with subtle nuances
Dagmar Manzel and Joachim Król carry this relationship story with great precision. Manzel's Lore appears energetic, uncomfortable, and at the same time moved by a deep longing for change. Król's Harry confronts the world with stoic calm, behind whose surface care and uncertainty are hidden.
Andreas Dresen's staging remains close to the characters and relies on careful observation rather than grand gestures. The film's set – a house with a garden, familiar rooms, and changing seasons – condenses the action into a cinematic chamber play. Acoustics, lighting mood, and calm editing give space to the dialogues until a casual sentence reveals an entire marriage story.
A novel adaptation between comedy and melancholy
Old Love is based on the novel by Elke Heidenreich and Bernd Schroeder. Andreas Dresen and screenwriter Laila Stieler translate the material into a realistic, tragicomic cinematic language. The narrative shifts to an East German context and connects private relationship conflicts with memories of social changes and different life concepts.
The audience's reaction thrives on recognition: In the verbal battles, pauses, and small gestures, long-standing partnerships, familiar injuries, and the quiet work towards shared closeness are reflected. Critics especially highlight the credible portrayal of Manzel and Król as well as the life-wise balance of humor, tenderness, and melancholy.
Movie Day at filmforum Duisburg
The screening starts at 6:15 PM and lasts 110 minutes. The film is rated for ages 6 and up. Since the date falls on a Monday, the cinema day rate of 7.90 euros applies at filmforum. The box office opens generally 30 minutes before showtime.
Filmforum at Dellplatz combines community cinema culture with a traditional movie theater and focused film experience. Here, Old Love unfolds as an intense stage experience in the dark of the auditorium: a film about the art of looking more closely after decades.
Conclusion: A quiet film with great emotional resonance
Visitors can expect a finely played relationship comedy about marriage, aging, longing, and the possibility of change. Old Love finds the drama not in exceptional states but in the small movements of everyday life. Those who appreciate realistic dialogues, strong acting, and a warm-hearted tragicomedy will experience an evening full of recognition and resonance at filmforum Duisburg.
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- Website: https://filmforum.de
