Emma's Bliss

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Jordis Triebel stars as Emma

This odd fairytale (with German subtitles) about the strangely beautiful relationship between German farm girl Emma (Triebel) and terminally ill car salesman Max (Vogel) has a charm and humanity all of its own.

Max, we learn by witnessing a couple of short conversations with fellow workers at his car dealership after his diagnosis with pancreatic cancer, has led a fairly dull life. His terminal illness injects some unwanted pace and drama into his existence, however, although at first it seems as though even this tragic change will be the final mundane act in a mundane life.

Near suicidal, he speeds off down the German motorway with thousands of stolen euro taken from the car dealership he owns in partnership with his friend Hans (Feifel). Seemingly intent on destruction, he is saved by a remarkable occurrence of chance, which brings him into the life of Emma.

During Max's existential crisis, Emma has been unsuccessfully trying to deal with problems of her own. Short of money, she is struggling to keep her old style farm going and simultaneously trying to fend off the unwanted attentions of a local police officer (Solbach). Initially, Max's arrival dramatic arrival promises a reprieve if little else, as Emma finds his money.

Soon enough, however, a closer bond develops between the pair and they begin a romantic relationship.

The story of a terminally ill inhabitant of an anodyne, hyper-modern Germany meeting and falling in love with a lusty German farm girl may have too much of a whiff of wish fulfilment about it but it many ways, that's the point.

It is likely to prove 'too much' only if you wilfully resist falling for the spirit of the thing. For those who allow themselves to be carried along, there's a unique blend of humour, tragedy and an authentically touching story.

Directed with tenderness and subtlety, beautifully shot and skilfully acted - and with a challenging and powerful ending - this is well worth seeing.

Brendan Cole