Swiss filmmaker Andrea Staka's Fraulein is a pleasant drama revolving around three women from the former Yugoslavia whose paths cross in a Zurich cafeteria: Serbian manager Ruza (Mirjana Karanovic), Croatian waitress Mila (Ljubica Jovic), and newcomer Ana (Marija Skaricic), a carefree Bosnian who doesn't think twice about injecting some spirited fun into the fairly stodgy environment. All three women have their own back-stories for winding up in Switzerland and each harbors secrets that are inevitably revealed amidst the emotional hullabaloo (a particularly memorable subplot involves Mila's husband's plans to build a retirement home in Croatia). While some of the film's nuances will be lost on viewers unfamiliar with the history of Yugoslavia's violent collapse, Fraulein boasts more than enough soapy melodrama to carry the story, and benefits from three strong leading actresses who work together wonderfully. Recommended. (P. Hall)
Fraulein
Film Movement, 81 min., in German & Serbo-Croatian w/English subtitles, not rated, DVD: $19.98, Nov. 4 Volume 23, Issue 6
Fraulein
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