This German drama serves up a cautionary tale about what happens when a young person grows up with unanswered questions concerning family history. The college-age titular hero (Jannis Niewöhner) works every day to exhaustion on the farm of his father, Burghardt (Andre Hennicke), who is slowly and miserably dying of cancer—whose chemotherapy and palliative care only add more responsibilities for Jonathan. When Burghardt's flinty, unhappy sister, Martha (Barbara Auer), arranges for a nurse, Anka (Julia Koschitz), to help out, Jonathan's world expands a bit. He and Anka begin a freewheeling sexual relationship, which also gives Jonathan someone to talk with, as Anka encourages him to begin carving out a destiny apart from Burghardt's long shadow. Part of Jonathan's conflict lies in the fact that Burghardt refuses to tell him anything about his long-dead mother, a cruel omission that takes on shocking complications when Burghardt's onetime gay lover turns up out of the blue. First-time director Piotr J. Lewandowski effectively captures the rhythms of rural life in this story that carries hints of Greek tragedy. Recommended. (T. Keogh)
Jonathan
Wolfe, 99 min., in German w/English subtitles, not rated, DVD: $26.99, Feb. 7 Volume 32, Issue 2
Jonathan
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