Release Date: 28 April 2005 (Exclusively at Cathay Cineplex Orchard)

Synopsis :

Tobi and Achim have been best friends for years. As cox and oarsman, they have helped their team win several rowing cups in the past and are now looking forward to the big regatta in the countryside. But this trip is no summer camp anymore and the first problems soon arise. As Achim's relationship with Sandra grows more serious, Tobi starts to realize that his feelings for Achim run deeper than he’s willing to admit to himself. He feels confused, unsure of himself and increasingly left out. When Sandra’s girlfriend Anke shows interest in him, this only adds to his anxiety. Then it turns out that the much-anticipated Berlin girls' team has been replaced by a team of athletic, cliché-bursting young gay men. Tobi and his teammates are suddenly forced to grapple with their prejudices, their fears, and, perhaps, their hidden longings. As the tension grows, Tobi, Achim and the others head towards a confrontation as fierce and, ultimately, liberating as the summer storm gathering over the lake...

Movie Review:

Also known as Sommersturm – directed and co-wrote by Marco Kreuzpaintner. It is a very funny film which is throughout enjoyable and suitable for almost all ages, perhaps not-so-much for youngsters. It showcases the process of self-discovery of oneself sexuality at the threshold of adulthood and have the courage to admit the truth – to himself, Tobi.

Award-winning young Robert Stadlober (Best Leading Actor at the Montreal Film Festival, 2001), Tobi and Achim (Kostja Ullmann) have been best friends since young and are inseparable like Siamese twins. Both of them participated in a rowing team and won several past championships. Now they are looking forward to winning a big regatta in Germany and as they headed to the countryside of Germany, they discovered it is not their usual summer camp. Differences soon arise.

When Achim starts dating Sandra (Miriam Morgenstern) seriously, Tobi begin to realize that his feelings for Achim are not as innocent as it seems. He felt lost and become insecure of himself. It doesn’t help when Sandra’s best friend, Anke (Alicja Bachleda-Curus) has love affection for Tobi. Tobi tried to avoid Anke and had unconsciously created a misunderstanding, letting Achim and Sandra think that he and Anke is already an item.

More problems transpire when the much-anticipated Berlin girls’ team couldn’t turn up for the competition, Queerschlag, a team of athletic young gay men was asked to be a replacement. The presence of them made Tobi and the team faces their own fears and intolerance in different gender direction and perhaps their hidden longings.

One of them starts to show some obvious interest in Tobi which caused him to question his own sanity. A gay who believe in one would not know his gender affinity until he has a taste of it, wants to hit on one of the straight guys in Tobi’s team and tried to lie about his own gender taste, thus created a lot of funny interactions. As the summer storm is gathering, Tobi, Achim, Sandra, Anke and the others have to face their confrontations as tense and invigorating as the storm approaches.

This movie highlights homosexuality in a funny and yet sensible manner – when one gay taught Tobi on being truthful to himself on having fondness for same gender. Suddenly I felt I have this weird emotion - respect for him and Tobi – at least he is not afraid of admitting what he is in the later part of the film.

I am truly fond of this film as it demonstrates that it takes courage to believe in oneself and do not fear the eyes of other beholders.

Movie Rating: B-

Review by Angeline Ng