German director Petra Clever's touching debut is as much the story of a journey of discovery as it is about a relationship. Rule-abiding Lucca (Sinha Melina Gierke) lives with her overprotective lawyer father (Sascha Tschorn), her mother having left when Lucca was young. Although planning to attend law school, Lucca isn't really sure whether this is what she wants or what her father wants. After drawing community service as a punishment for an incident of accidental vandalism (she entered an unlocked aquarium at night, but didn't touch anything), Lucca meets free-spirited nightclub singer Valerie (Verena Wüstkamp), whose friend Herma is in the hospice where Lucca volunteers. Out of curiosity, Lucca visits the nightclub where Valerie performs, and when the latter asks if she's gay or straight, Lucca replies, "I don't want to be labeled"—but seems intrigued. After Herma dies, Valerie worries over whether Herma's homophobic son, Rüdiger (Klaus Nierhoff), will bury her in the family plot. Lucca offers to accompany Valerie to the Netherlands to sort things out, leading to a scenic (if occasionally stressful) road trip full of rule-breaking and bonding between the ladies. Later, Lucca will realize that everything is not what it seems. Although the narrative sometimes seems schematic, these likeable actresses make it work. Recommended. (K. Fennessy)
Happy End
Wolfe, 86 min., in German w/English subtitles, not rated, DVD: $24.95 Volume 30, Issue 2
Happy End
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