BoardChiri
Bad Acting and worse Bad Screenplay
Baseshment
I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.
Donald Seymour
This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.
AlanSKaufman
The Holocaust is so shocking that perhaps a more appropriate way to comprehend its import is to focus on the time just before it happened. Cabaret is one such film, however its highly entertaining music detracts attention from the story characters. A better fit is the 1989 movie Reunion, which lavishly illustrates the threat to Germany's beautiful scenery, intellectual heritage, and setting for a rare and idyllic friendship.In a 1932 German boy's school, Hans meets new student Konradin. Gradually becoming best friends, they admit having no other friends. Yes, as Hans is Jewish and Konradin a Count, others might be deterred from approaching them, but the pair possesses a mutual chemistry that exclusively draws each other.Exquisite actors convincingly depict the depth of their friendship as they walk to school, camp overnight at breathtaking sites, swim, eat, and endlessly converse on numerous subjects. A fascinating pleasure to behold, you feel as if you are participating with them.But your participation forces you to experience the negative consequences impacting their lives. Several children, neighbors of Hans, die in a fire. Hans is angry at God and believes that if He exists, He is a monster for letting innocents burn to death. We recognize this as merely a taste of the forthcoming Holocaust.Friction arises when Hans learns that his friend's parents are supporters of Hitler. Konradin himself is being drawn into the movement though he rationalizes that an exception will be made for good Jews like Hans. Hans knows better. As his parents send him to America, the two friends awkwardly depart company. Thus ironically Hans escapes the Nazis while the fate of his former buddy remains unknown to him. Hans spends decades unable to forget, finally returning to Germany seeking a reunion.I discovered months ago the 1971 Reunion novella crafted by English painter Fred Uhlman, published in 1977 with Arthur Koestler's introduction. I then acquired the film available only on VHS. Let me quote from the book's opening paragraphs, "I can remember the day and the hour when I first set my eyes on this boy who was to be the source of my greatest happiness and of my greatest despair." The book and movie are clearly complementary.In both vehicles, the account abruptly ends after Hans determines Konradin's whereabouts. Emotionally, you will find yourself left in a vacuum, literally gasping for air. A haunting epitaph for the Holocaust, a haunting epitaph for the idyllic friendship in Reunion.
dvdb
I saw the film only once, way back in 1989 when it came out in Europe. I was very touched than: the film, its characters, colors, landscapes and music echoed in my head and heart for a long time after, although I remember beeing under heavy private and professional pressure at the time.Those echos never stopped to come up, and two weeks ago, after a long night with some friends discussing films, directors and so forth, Jerry Schatzberg's name came up, and I could not withstand to recount my experience with REUNION. The day after I rented the film: believe me, after 15 years it had almost the same effect on me. "Almost" because after 15 years I have changed...I'd hope more people would make films like that, not only plotwise: Schatzberg's craftsmanship and art of storytelling makes him one of the finest artists of his kind.P.S.: If in this review I would rather not talk about the plot, characters or other details, this is because I don't want to spoil your viewing pleasure. If a review makes you curious, go rent the film: you will not be disappointed...
Ron Smolin
I can't help but being impressed by the charm and angst that this film produces. On one hand we have two lonely boys from completely different backgrounds and religions who form a strong friendship, only to have politics and antisemitism destroy it. The photography is awesome. The acting superb. A terribly tragic feeling is left with the viewer at the end of the film, although one can also find redemption. A haunting movie.
Hans-P
Despite some traumatic sequences, this picture boasts careful, almost nostalgic location work in Stuttgart and the Schwarzwald. The conclusion may surprise you, mainly because the actions of the characters don't appear to foreshadow it at all. Nevertheless, it's a good piece of work, worthy of home-video release.
