Bungalow

2002 Directed by Ulrich Köhler

A German soldier who goes AWOL, returns home to more problems than before he left.

Lennie Burmeister Nicole Gläser Jörg Malchow Trine Dyrholm Devid Striesow

84 mins More details at IMDb TMDb Report this film

Popular reviews

Review by Filmbantha ★★½

A disillusioned nineteen year old, Paul, takes unauthorised leave from the army to return home in this mundane character study from German Director Ulrich Kohler. Back home, Paul falls for his older brother's girlfriend, Lene - who continually rejects his inappropriate advances - and searches for ways to escape his boredom. Commendable acting from Lennie Burmeister as Paul and Trine Dyrholm as Lene cannot save this tepid and unsatisfying drama. Its contemplative tone and steady pace reflect the ennui that plagues Paul but also places the audience in a conundrum similar to that of the main protagonist.
When the army begin to close in on Paul the film builds up some much needed momentum until it stutters to an end…
Review by Doug Dibbern ★★★★

I watched this one because I thought Kohler's other film I saw was underrated, then about 2/3 of the way into it I realized I'd seen it before. It's a great portrait of teenage boredom, disaffection, and ennui. But it's quietly so, so it falls under the festival aesthetic radar. The last sequence is really beautifully orchestrated.
Review by Kevin Ringgenberg ★★★★

Low-key German film of ennui, youthful confusion and a narrative that wants to go in any direction, at anytime.
Review by Ben Sachs

Written for CineFile.info (and published 6/3/20):
The first feature by acclaimed German filmmaker Ulrich Köhler (SLEEPING SICKNESS) is a dry comedy about arrested adolescence, sexual frustration, and not giving a shit. It begins when Paul, a young man engaged in mandatory military service, abandons his troop during a period of leave. He hitchhikes his way back to his family home in an unspecified suburb, where he takes advantage of his parents being gone to loll about and evade requests by the German military to return to base. Shortly after Paul arrives, he discovers that his older brother Max is also crashing at the family bungalow with his girlfriend Lene, a Danish actress who becomes the object of Paul’s infatuation. The…
Review by Steve Erickson ★★½

Likably shaggy and low-stakes, but you need to have a mastery of framing and editing to pull off a hang-out film like this. Back in 2002, Ulrich Kohler didn't have it, although the stunning final shot is a piece of choreography worthy of PLAYTIME or THROUGH THE OLIVE TREES. SLEEPING SICKNESS might have been a worthier film to pull from his back catalogue for American release, but this helps kick off Grasshopper Film's new streaming website, projectr.tv.
Review by John Lynn Fernandez ★★★½

Kohler's first feature has a simple narrative yet is complex in its themes of a new democracy in a united Germany and of coming of age during the early aughts. Like 2018's In My Room, the vistas and landscapes of modern Germany haunt and add to its power.
Review by Ben Murray ★★½

I am not sure what this film was aiming for. I only know I felt nothing the entire time. I literally have no idea what the point of this was? Boy absconds from army, hangs out around his brother's place hoping to fuck his girlfriend. That's it. Any and all meaning was lost because nothing happened and what little does happen is lost on me for any meaning or subtext. It's not offensive, so it not rate lower.
Review by Nights Of Terror ★★★

What’s this all about then?
A 19-year-old goes absent without leave from the German army and falls for a woman who leads him on, as well as returning home to more problems than he left.
Is it any good?
It’s an interesting, if a little lightweight, German drama with good performances. Feels a little like classic American drama ‘Five Easy Pieces’ (1970) and the ending invokes strong memories of that particular film.
Review by Pierre Daudelin ★★★½

Challenging movie, challenging themes, shot with a very deliberate approach.

Recent reviews

Review by Devin ★★★★

Grasshopper Films has been on a roll lately with scooping up the rights to some excellent films, with this new 4K restoration of Bungalow being no exception. Up until now, I've never seen a German film, and after watching this, color me impressed with this directorial debut from Ulrich Köhler dating back to 2002.
The film begins with Paul (Lennie Burmeister) and some other soldiers stopping at a Burger King for a quick bite before going back on the road. Rather than departing the fast food joint with the other soldiers, Paul lingers behind and instead makes way to his childhood home, where his brother Max (Devid Striesow) resides, their parents being away on holiday. While home, Paul begins to…
Review by Coral Gables Art Cinema

Opened in the Virtual Screening Room on Friday, July 17 and closed on Thursday, September 3.
Review by John Lynn Fernandez ★★★½

Kohler's first feature has a simple narrative yet is complex in its themes of a new democracy in a united Germany and of coming of age during the early aughts. Like 2018's In My Room, the vistas and landscapes of modern Germany haunt and add to its power.
Review by International Film Series

A blast from the past, brought to you in a gorgeous 4K restoration, now playing in our virtual theater.
Review by Ben Sachs

Written for CineFile.info (and published 6/3/20):
The first feature by acclaimed German filmmaker Ulrich Köhler (SLEEPING SICKNESS) is a dry comedy about arrested adolescence, sexual frustration, and not giving a shit. It begins when Paul, a young man engaged in mandatory military service, abandons his troop during a period of leave. He hitchhikes his way back to his family home in an unspecified suburb, where he takes advantage of his parents being gone to loll about and evade requests by the German military to return to base. Shortly after Paul arrives, he discovers that his older brother Max is also crashing at the family bungalow with his girlfriend Lene, a Danish actress who becomes the object of Paul’s infatuation. The…
Review by Steve Erickson ★★½

Likably shaggy and low-stakes, but you need to have a mastery of framing and editing to pull off a hang-out film like this. Back in 2002, Ulrich Kohler didn't have it, although the stunning final shot is a piece of choreography worthy of PLAYTIME or THROUGH THE OLIVE TREES. SLEEPING SICKNESS might have been a worthier film to pull from his back catalogue for American release, but this helps kick off Grasshopper Film's new streaming website, projectr.tv.
Review by Ben Murray ★★½

I am not sure what this film was aiming for. I only know I felt nothing the entire time. I literally have no idea what the point of this was? Boy absconds from army, hangs out around his brother's place hoping to fuck his girlfriend. That's it. Any and all meaning was lost because nothing happened and what little does happen is lost on me for any meaning or subtext. It's not offensive, so it not rate lower.
Review by Nights Of Terror ★★★

What’s this all about then?
A 19-year-old goes absent without leave from the German army and falls for a woman who leads him on, as well as returning home to more problems than he left.
Is it any good?
It’s an interesting, if a little lightweight, German drama with good performances. Feels a little like classic American drama ‘Five Easy Pieces’ (1970) and the ending invokes strong memories of that particular film.
Review by Filmbantha ★★½

A disillusioned nineteen year old, Paul, takes unauthorised leave from the army to return home in this mundane character study from German Director Ulrich Kohler. Back home, Paul falls for his older brother's girlfriend, Lene - who continually rejects his inappropriate advances - and searches for ways to escape his boredom. Commendable acting from Lennie Burmeister as Paul and Trine Dyrholm as Lene cannot save this tepid and unsatisfying drama. Its contemplative tone and steady pace reflect the ennui that plagues Paul but also places the audience in a conundrum similar to that of the main protagonist.
When the army begin to close in on Paul the film builds up some much needed momentum until it stutters to an end…
Review by Eren Odabasi ★★★★

Extraordinarily assured portrayal of ennui and disillusionment, superbly acted and nicely observed.
This kind of critique of the military and the bourgeoisie through stories of aimless youth is not new. But Kohler's direction is superb, controlled and precise without ever getting intrusive or suffocating. The tone is airy and natural, but there is great thought put into each camera movement.
The final shot is masterful - so clever and beautifully orchestrated.
Review by Cora Berube ★★★½

There is one harlequin Volkswagen Golf in this film.
Review by Diogo Vale ★★★

At this point I watch Köhler's films mostly for the soundtrack.
This one is interesting for fans of the director but for people looking to get into his work this isn't the best starting point since the themes that are explored here are present throughout his other films, where they're further developed.