Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Franka Potente, Benno Fürmann, Joachim Król, Marita Breuer, Jurgen Tarrach, Lars Rudolph, Melchior Beslon, Ludger Pistor

- Reviewed by Linda

Supposedly The Princess and the Warrior marks a return for director Tom Tykwer to the style of his earlier films like Wintersleepers. But c'mon, Tom, you (and Franka Potente) became famous for the non-stop, stylish and super-invigorating Run Lola Run (which won the Golden Space Needle at SIFF in 1999). And you answer that great film by putting us back to sleep?

The princess is Sissi (Potente), a mental health ward worker who gets hit by a truck, and is inadvertantly rescued by the warrior, Bodo (Benno Fürmann), an ex-soldier who now makes a living robbing banks with his brother (Joachim Król). Both Sissi and Bodo are pretty screwed up, and fate will bring them together more than once, as of course they are destined to be together to save each other.

Tykwer aims more for mood than substance. The city of Wuppertal is a cool setting, with its silent and futuristic monorail snaking through the picturesque town (we are treated with many aerial shots of this). Plus, mental ward inmates and bank robbers should make for colorful characters... but the film drags, and ends up feeling rather empty. Where Lola was brisk and efficient, Princess takes too much time, and leaves us in a bit of a stupor, despite the attractive leads and setting.

Agree? Disagree? Go to the Forum!  |  Back to Video/DVD!  |  Back to SIFF 2001

Home | Currently Playing | For Rent | Video Obsession 
Movie Forum | Guestbook | Links | "Get to know us!"

©2001 Moviepie e-mail us