Actions have consequences. Even if they are not consciously made something that takes place leads to something else and a whole unknown path. This is the basis for the German movie The Most Beautiful Couple.
While on holiday in Mallorca a young married couple are having a little fun on a secluded beach. They are spies on by three youths who follow them home, rob them and rape the woman while the husband is forced to watch. It takes two years of therapy for them to get some semblance of their life back and just as they appear to be getting on the husband sees one of the rapists at a local cafe. Everything they worked for is thrown into turmoil as they have to face their demons.
The film starts with a tender loving moment as the couple make love in the secluded cove. This is one of only two scenes where the tone is lighter. From there, it’s all tense and disturbing in parts. The rape scene holds nothing back and is really quite difficult to watch. It is an effective piece of work that emphasises the trauma.
The film concentrated on the couple and ensures that although they are the victims of a crime they do not have a victim mentality. Both have tackled the trauma full on, taking part in counselling and using the support of their circle of friends. There is no shame associated with the crime and the wife has no issues in discussing the state they’re in as everything they do is another hurdle cleared in the rest of their lives.
The dilemma facing them once they find the man who carried out the rape forms the second half of the film. The main characters have been developed in such a thorough way that their actions do not seem out-of-place. The husband has taken up boxing in order to channel his aggressive feelings. This could have been used in the story to give him some sort of edge and to be frank it was kind of expected. The fact that it didn’t make a difference to the way he tackled the situation made it feel all the better. If anything he seemed to become less rational as he goes along. In one situation he has the foresight to follow the rapist without being seen. After a confrontation he has no other thought rather than getting home despite the fact that if he opens himself up to be followed in a similar way.
It is the central performances from Maximilian Bruckner and Luise Heyer as the couple, Matte and Liv. There is an ease and familiarity about their interactions that makes them seem real. Everything in the drama revolves around them and with this bond between them we can relate to the issues they are facing. Having them as school teachers adds that extra dimension to the drama. Educators are seen as being organised and confident people due to their ability to deliver information to kids so, to see them struggling to find a solution is all the more harrowing.
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