A Heavy Heart

Herbert is a massive, intimidating figure. Covered by tattoos, fast with his fists. A former East German boxing champion, he is now ageing in a reunified Germany – and his best times are long over. The only way he can put his talents to use is by being a bouncer and debt collector, persuading people with violence. One of Herbert's few joys is the time he spends training Eddy, a talented young boxer.

But all his massive strength is about to leave him. Herbert is suddenly shatterd by spasms, while showering after training, while getting another one of his countless tattoos. He choses to stay ignorant until the pain becomes unbearable, until a doctor lets him know that there is only few time to live. The man gets blow by blow, and he is bound to fall. Will he still have time to reconcile with his daughter he had abonded long ago? She meanwhile has become a mother herself trying everything to protect a structure for her child.

German writer-director Thomas Stuber has delivered a powerful drama, precise and unmerciful as his cinema debut. The acting of Peter Kurth in the lead reminds us of the method actors going to their extremes. He has trained down from Hercules to ailing figure – a most outstanding performance by one of Germany's biggest theatre stars. Vulnerability is the key motif, shown in its extremes in unforgettable scenes. Here is a fighter with a big, heavy heart.

Christoph Gröner / PÖFF

Germany 2015