The Tobacconist (Der Trafikant)
Directed by Nikolaus Leytner
Germany | 2018 | Fiction | 117 min
German w/ English subtitles
Film Source: Menemsha
Sponsors: Barbara McGrew
Also showing:
Thur, Oct 24 | 4:00PM | BB
Vienna, 1937-38. Set just before, and during, the Nazi occupation of Austria, The Tobacconist is the story of one young man’s coming of age and his unlikely friendship with Sigmund Freud (Bruno Ganz, in his penultimate role). The film excels in portraying the creeping anti-Semitism and swift embrace of Nazi ideology from the points of view of 17-year-old Franz, the music-hall dancer he pines for, and of Freud himself. As war approaches and the city descends into turmoil, the personal dramas of these protagonists are swept up into the larger events that are shaking the foundations of Europe. Shot in beautifully muted tones that provide a real sense of place, The Tobacconist resonates way beyond period and location. Based on the international bestseller by Robert Seethaler. ~OY