Das Perfekte Geheimnis (4 Stars)

The cinema was fairly full when I went to see "Das Perfekte Geheimnis" (engl. "The Perfect Secret") today. Based on the box office figures of the first week, it will probably the most successful German language film in 2019. It features some of the biggest German movie stars, and when I walked out I overheard people telling one another how much they'd enjoyed it.

But how many of the people in the audience knew what they were watching?

It's a remarkable film, unique in the history of cinema. There's never been a phenomenon like it. I'm using the word "film" in an extended sense, referring to the story and the series of remakes.

In 2016 an Italian film was made called "Perfetti Sconosciuti" (engl. "Perfect Strangers"). Seven friends meet for dinner. (Three couples, plus a single man whose girlfriend doesn't turn up). The host's wife suggests that they play a game. They lay their mobile phones on the table. All incoming calls have to be answered on speaker phone. All texts and emails have to be read aloud.

Something about this film attracted the imagination of audiences. Film studios jumped on the opportunity and bought the rights for their respective countries. Believe it or not, "Das Perfekte Geheimnis" is the ELEVENTH remake within three years. Another seven remakes are currently in production, and the Guinness Book of Records now lists it as the most remade film ever.

It's a topic that people in countries all over the world can relate to. Mobile phones are a global phenomenon. They bring people together and pull them apart at the same time. Couples don't share their phones, so each partner has the opportunity to lead a double life.

The only other version I've seen is "Perfectos Desconocidos" (engl. "Perfect Strangers"), made in Spain by the legendary director Alex de la Iglesia. Based on a plot synopsis I've read, he remains very close to the original film. The German version omits a few small details, and it adds an epilogue to give the story a happy end. The French vesion, "Le Jeu" (engl. "The Game"), is available in Netflix, so I'll probably watch it soon for comparison.

I enjoyed the film a lot, even though I always knew what would happen next. The actors are all first class, many of them reuniting after making "Fack Ju, Göthe" together. My only criticism is the epilogue. It was unnecessary. They should have stuck to the seven people in a room.