Paula, a pretty fraulein with two kids, is madly in love with Paul, a party bureaucrat marking time in a staid marriage. With their levels of passion out-of-sync, Paula becomes cold and dismissive just as the previously uncommitted Paul turns increasingly obsessive. Once called “the Love Story of East Germany,” this tale of ill-fated romance from 1973 is very much a product of its time. Besides dated fashions and hairstyles, the pop-music-filled soundtrack, fantasy sequences, and overlit cinematography prove to be something of a distraction the giddy storyline has trouble overcoming. Very popular in Germany during its initial release, the film plays like a curiosity piece from a time capsule. Larger foreign cinema collections will want to consider; optional elsewhere. (T. Rich)
The Legend of Paul and Paula
Icestorm, 106 min., in German w/English subtitles, not rated, VHS: $24.95, DVD: $29.95 Volume 17, Issue 5
The Legend of Paul and Paula
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