a short film by Falk Chrysologus Ulbrich 2003 | 24 mins | Germany ›› Styx a journey navigating the end of a relationship Breaking up is never easy, but as this work so aptly demonstrates, it can also be a bitter experience. And it all revolves around long-term partners Marc and Adrien and their seemingly perfect existence close to Lake Constance. Only whilst Marc is content to spend his days working for the local ferry service, Adrien yearns for the bright lights of Berlin and the clubs in which he hopes to realise his dream of becoming a musician. Yet life has a way of turning out not as you expect and here events culminate on a lengthy ferry crossing, one that sees Marc soon to spot Adrien onboard, complete with a one-way ticket and a car packed full of his belongings. Suffice to say that the stage is set for a traumatic farewell. Only if this sounds like a work laden with feelings of a life unfulfilled, then it is, given the clue that is the title; Styx being in Greek mythology the river that formed the boundary between the underworld and the world of the living, across which Charon ferried the souls of the dead. And no surprise that the dead soul here is their relationship, as the two lovers are set to be torn apart by their failure to reconcile their differences and incompatible dreams for the future. Yet and in spite of the fine work from Adolf Münstermann as Marc and Torsten Schwick as Adrien, something is amiss here, for you do not feel for the two lovers, as you should. That this is a journey navigating the end of a relationship, is not in doubt. Unfortunately many may find it an emotionally flat voyage. screened as part of the 18th London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival 2004 starring: Adolf Münstermann, Torsten Schwick Copyright 2004 David Hall - www.gaycelluloid.com. archive reference #060 ›› previous page | back to top | print me ‹‹