Eight Miles High
Eight Miles High
NR | 11 July 2008 (USA)
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Achim Bornhak's movie focuses on the restless life of Uschi Obermaier, the icon of the 1968 movement in Germany and groupie. At the age of 16, Uschi is bored by her job in a photo lab, but soon becomes the "it girl" of Munich's club scene. When she gets to know Rainer Langhans, they move to Berlin and live in "Kommune 1", the first politically-motivated commune in Germany. While the other occupants claim she isn't political enough, Uschi just wants to have fun, works as fashion model and leads international music stars in temptation.

Reviews
Horst in Translation ([email protected])

Uschi Obermaier is certainly a very controversial character. I thing the best term to describe her would be "society slut". She loved the company of very important or very rich people and if she had enough of one man and sees a chance to be with a more powerful man, she would not hesitate. So, even if I despise the character, I can somewhat see why they would make a film about her and also why this film is actually pretty well-known, also outside of Germany. But that does not mean it's a good movie. The first problem is Natalia Avalon who is neither a good actress nor a good singer and I have no idea why she was cast here. i guess because she is fairly attractive and wasn't scared to show full frontal nudity.The story is not really great either I have to say, but it's not entirely bad either. However, the by far best thing about this 110 minute film is the makeup. They did a really good job on Schweighöfer's character and lets not say he gave a good performance. He certainly did not. All the makeup and Langhans' unique looks did the job on him. And in the end, the makeup on Keuth Richard was spot-on as well. So I am sort-of okay with the 2 German Film Award nominations that this movie received. The writer and director here is Achim Bornhak, but there is nothing more to say about him. Even here in Germany, he is pretty much unknown and this is the only famous film he worked on. Finally, a thumbs-up for Georg Friedrich who plays well as always. But his character was too small to make up for all the negative aspects in this movie. Not recommended.

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stopjen

Full of noise with very little substance. On the background: with so much exciting material in the 60s and 70s this film only takes a meagre glimpse of the politics, history, youth, music, and media. On the foreground: our protagonist has no purposes or goals or beliefs beyond open sexual relationships (when they suit her, one might add). It also leaves no room for the supporting characters as they shy away next to the heroine's frequent and stunning nakedness. Where the film fails miserably is that pieces of Uschi's memories do not invite audiences to be emotionally involved. They were mere events, things she had done, most of the time simply for spontaneous fun. There are a few failed attempts to portray her wildness, but they instead display her stupidity (e.g., she insists on smuggling drugs yet it's her partner who meets and wins the confrontation). By the end of the film - of moving from one group to another, mingling with the "high society" of the rock 'n' roll, travelling in a caravan around half of the world, having a prince- like wedding in India, pregnancy, etc. - both the heroine and the audience are still none the wiser. The odd narratives only provides abrupt and surprising statements like when she muses about "the two men I loved most". Huh? Which two? Since when???Her happiness is built on drugs and sexual pleasure. Her tears are shallow and unmoving. There seems to be no connection between her and any other characters except for the one she's currently sleeping with. (I don't even know what her best friend looks like as she speaks hardly 3 words.) Even then the connection is vague and confusing. Undeniably other characters display stronger personality at times, but it's largely undermined by their inconsistent and implausible behaviour.The light is on but nobody's home - very much like our main character; perhaps in that sense this film isn't a total failure after all: it mirrors the character in itself.

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Robert Pullman

I will catch this film when it plays here in Chicago in August. I was in Kommune 1 for a couple of weeks in March of 1969. There were two residences - Rainer Langhans, Uschi Obermaier, Dieter Kunzelmann stayed in the larger of the two, a factory loft sort of place. I stayed in the other residence, a dozen or so people in one large room. I went there with a friend from Frankfurt who wanted to reconcile with his girlfriend, who had left him for Dieter Kunzelmann. His girlfriend was unreceptive and he split right away. I was welcome to stay on for a while and did. It was easy living. Everyone was nice, except grouchy Dieter. No star attitudes or pretensions. Both Rainer and Uschi were very grounded, not at all affected by their notoriety. I think that set the tone. I'll give this film a 10 just on its subject matter.

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SummerMood

Well, I always thought that Germany can't do great movies, but now I know it can! I was surprised that it was so unbelievable good! The story of Uschi Obermaier was filmed excellent. The movie shows the audience the height and depths of Obermaier's life. And to be true, I love Natalia Avelon. She looks like Uschi Obermaier and I think that she is the perfect actress for that role. Her hair style is almost the same (in the movie). I had watched the movie with a friend and she thought it is too sexual she didn't like it, but I did! OK, it would be better if Keith Richards would be played by a English actor but it is okay. I think it is also good that there are parts which are just spoken in English. I love English so I really enjoyed it. The film locations are perfect. I am overwhelmed by that bus in which they drive through the world in six years. Now the acting: Brilliant! Natalia is sexy, what she has to be in that kind of movie. She acts so amazing. She can play funny scenes but also serious ones. Especially in the scene where she looses her baby or where her husband dies she shows us that she can also play sad movies. The music is excellent. I love that song "Summer Wine". Natalia Avelon sings that song herself! Well, I can only say that everybody who likes hot women and excellent movies should go in it.10 of 10 stars!

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