Cloud 9 (2008)

I admit I missed the first 20 minutes of this film but soon realized what it was about. A couples relationship that has lasted 30years is suddenly in danger. The woman falls is love with another man and faces a terrible choice to stay in her boring relationship or feel alive again with her new man. I won't spoil the ending but it was very moving and at the same time disturbing. A real gritty drama that shows life as it is without any Hollywood style gloss. It's not just young love that has it's agonies!!! To all young couples and the middle aged. Don't think you're past all turbulent times, you never know what is around the corner.

The film poses the question : what do we do when we can the chance of some happiness, and someone else may be hurt as a result? Ignore it if it makes us feel guilty, or give into it and accept that there will be a price to pay. And it is a good question as happiness is such an elusive quality. Igne has been with ( and presumably married to) Werner for some thirty years. They are fond of it each other, content with each other, but their relationship is dull, maybe always was. He loves trains, likes watching film of trains, travelling on them, reading about them, telling their grandchildren about trains, a man obsessed. Meanwhile Inge unexpectedly feels a strong attraction to Karl and for the first time, late in life, and goes off Werner's rails. She is torn ( "I didn't want this"), still fond of Werner, but drawn to Karl. She confides in her daughter Petra who is glad her mother is happy, who tells her to say nothing to Werner. But Inge cares so much for him, she tells him. It is a truly remarkable performance from Ursula Werner. The scene when she learns of the death of Werner is wonderfully moving. The direction is excellent and subtle. I liked the scene of the morning after she tells Werner and the camera is static as she walks around their flat not knowing whether to disturb him, finally knocking on his bedroom to find (we presume) he has gone out. She no longer knows what he is doing. And the scene at the funeral where Inge is frozen with true grief as people line up to formally comfort with. It is a very "real" film. All the actors distinguish themselves. I found this film compelling from the beginning to the end. It is genuine, heartfelt. The question is impossible to answer but I felt sympathy for the plight of Inge. We do the best we can. Time spent watching this film is not time wasted.

I was disappointed by this movie. The meaning in German Wolke 9 or Cloud nine means that a person is full of happiness through being in love and passion with another person, hence sailing on Cloud 9. I don't argue that this could not happen to a well mature couple, but it was lacking in this movie. From an aesthete point of view it was not necessary to show closes ups of the aged bodies. I remember the movie Cocoon, which had a lot more sense, action and humor, also relating to older couples that enjoy or rediscover love and passion. Even the few spoken dialogs were motionless. I believe that the story had more potential than it showed. Well, just my opinion.

The pitch of this movie isn't my usual cup of tea a love affair between elders. Also festival movies have a tendency to drag and bore. Finally love scenes between old couple naked. All these aspect should turn me down to sit through it.In the end the movie was so well acted that the long cliché scene of Indy cinema where good and most importantly kept you awake.The story was complex because the women cheats on her husband after 30 years of marriage.Finally the love scenes between old people. Yes you see them naked but the director doesn't make vulgar or gross. So it doesn't really bother the eye Very interesting movie.