The Trio

Running time: N/A

When one thinks of German cinema, "intimate comedies" do not immediately come to mind. That is what makes The Trio such a treasure. A band of petty thieves, Zobel and Karl (a long-time gay couple) and Lizzie (Zobel's daughter), work shopping malls and train stations picking pockets. But when Karl is injured and the cute, young Rudolf is recruited to join the team, the very existence of the group is in jeopardy. Shortly after banding together, the hapless Rudolf breaks the golden rule of "no exchange of bodily fluids within the team," and it is only a matter of time before desire and betrayal endanger the group. Hermine Huntgeburth directs a superbly talented cast in this charming comedy about love, desire and the search for happiness. The cast, particularly Gotz George, are well known to German and international audiences for their vast array of work on stage and screen. Together, they make The Trio one of the freshest and most endearing films of the year. --Chris Lion