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The Berlin Affair (1985)
Released By: MGM Home Entertainment   Rating: R   In Theaters: N/A
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Studio: MGM Home Entertainment
Genre: Drama
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Liliana Cavani
Language: English
Official Website: N/A
Theatrical Release: N/A
Home Video Release: N/A
Cast: Gudrun Landgrebe, Kevin McNally, Mio Takaki
Published ID: 2095
UPC: N/A
Plot: In 1938 Berlin, Gudrun Landgrebe, wife of Nazi functionary Kevin McNally, begins taking art lessons. She makes the acquaintance of another student, Japanese ambassador's daughter Mio Takaki. Soon afterwards, the two women begin a passionate lesbian affair. This leads to a chain reaction of disaster and tragedy, culminating with the inevitable intervention of the Gestapo. Despite the film's galloping sexual passions, The Berlin Affair is an exercise in aloofness, keeping the characters at arm's length-surprising, considering that the director was Liliana Cavani, auteur of the erotic classic The Night Porter (1974). The film was based on {-The Buddhist Cross}, a novel by Junichiro Tanizaki. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
IDDateTimeTitleReviewHelpfulVotesTotalVotes
One moment we were laughing, the next, we were making love.
Added 5/12/2005

It's 1938 in Berlin, and Louise (Gudrun Landgrebe), the wife of a high ranking Nazi official, becomes very intrigued with Mitsuko (Mio Takaki), the daughter of the Japanese ambassador to Germany. As Louise later tells her professor, "One moment we were laughing, the next, we were making love." The two spend almost all of their time together, and Louise is totally in love. Her husband Heinz (Kevin McNally) figures out what's going on, jealous, but also worried about implications for himself. Heinz has been asked to take part in a purge of suspected gay men from the ranks of Nazi officials.

The women plot to scare Heinz to get him to accept their relationship, but in a major ick moment, Heinz and Mitsuko begin having an affair as well. It's apparent that she controls both of her lovers, and the jealousy in the household is overwhelming.

And then Louise and Mitsuko are found out, with a story appearing in the newspaper. The love triangle comes to end in an unexpected way.

0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
berlin affaire...
Added 10/24/2003

good film...for as the best, oh yeah...is drama, ok...but Gudrun Landgrebe great! for this eyes...like the film, great all, congratulations Liliana Cavani...but hope the new film in this way...for the woman of the family you understand? thank's!
3 out of 14 people found this helpful.
An Unusual Story Of Seduction During The Third Reich
Added 3/4/2001

It has long been fashionable in critical circles to bash the films of Liliana Cavani. Her films tend to show sleazy low life characters---------even when they live in palatial mansions. Her controversial NIGHT PORTER was unjustly accused of being deplorable, and insult to the intelligence of the average moviegoer, an offense to Jews and women, and generally condemned by everyone of cinematic importance. For me, she is the modern purveyor of film noir at it's darkest.

THE BERLIN AFFAIR tells the story of Mitsuko, daughter of the Japanese ambassador to Germany during the Nazi era. She is publicly quiet and demure, but in private, flamboyantly bisexual and seduces the wife of a high Nazi official-------and eventually the husband himself. This leads to a rather unusual ménage a trois with each member of the triangle becoming more and more jealous of the others. Eventually, this self-destructive relationship becomes harder and harder to resist in spite of the personal dangers to the individuals and their respective families and political causes.

It would be easy to dismiss this film as another sleazy sex opera from Cavani. But a great deal is going on in this film---------politically, sexually, socially, racially and artistically. There is a definite message for those willing to see it-------and it would be more fun for each viewer to find it for himself. Ignore Leonard Maltin's opinion and decide for yourself.


22 out of 23 people found this helpful.
One moment we were laughing, the next, we were making love.
Added 5/12/2005

It's 1938 in Berlin, and Louise (Gudrun Landgrebe), the wife of a high ranking Nazi official, becomes very intrigued with Mitsuko (Mio Takaki), the daughter of the Japanese ambassador to Germany. As Louise later tells her professor, "One moment we were laughing, the next, we were making love." The two spend almost all of their time together, and Louise is totally in love. Her husband Heinz (Kevin McNally) figures out what's going on, jealous, but also worried about implications for himself. Heinz has been asked to take part in a purge of suspected gay men from the ranks of Nazi officials.

The women plot to scare Heinz to get him to accept their relationship, but in a major ick moment, Heinz and Mitsuko begin having an affair as well. It's apparent that she controls both of her lovers, and the jealousy in the household is overwhelming.

And then Louise and Mitsuko are found out, with a story appearing in the newspaper. The love triangle comes to end in an unexpected way.

0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
berlin affaire...
Added 10/24/2003

good film...for as the best, oh yeah...is drama, ok...but Gudrun Landgrebe great! for this eyes...like the film, great all, congratulations Liliana Cavani...but hope the new film in this way...for the woman of the family you understand? thank's!
3 out of 14 people found this helpful.
An Unusual Story Of Seduction During The Third Reich
Added 3/4/2001

It has long been fashionable in critical circles to bash the films of Liliana Cavani. Her films tend to show sleazy low life characters---------even when they live in palatial mansions. Her controversial NIGHT PORTER was unjustly accused of being deplorable, and insult to the intelligence of the average moviegoer, an offense to Jews and women, and generally condemned by everyone of cinematic importance. For me, she is the modern purveyor of film noir at it's darkest.

THE BERLIN AFFAIR tells the story of Mitsuko, daughter of the Japanese ambassador to Germany during the Nazi era. She is publicly quiet and demure, but in private, flamboyantly bisexual and seduces the wife of a high Nazi official-------and eventually the husband himself. This leads to a rather unusual ménage a trois with each member of the triangle becoming more and more jealous of the others. Eventually, this self-destructive relationship becomes harder and harder to resist in spite of the personal dangers to the individuals and their respective families and political causes.

It would be easy to dismiss this film as another sleazy sex opera from Cavani. But a great deal is going on in this film---------politically, sexually, socially, racially and artistically. There is a definite message for those willing to see it-------and it would be more fun for each viewer to find it for himself. Ignore Leonard Maltin's opinion and decide for yourself.


22 out of 23 people found this helpful.
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