Vacations (2007) Graduates of the Berlin Film Academy of the 90s focused on the main problem of German cinema: monotonous traditional approaches, almost complete lack of development of formal techniques, imitation of American models, as a rule, is quite mediocre.
Thomas Arslan has been making feature films since the mid-90s, but three of his paintings have not been translated. The first film available is "Holidays" (2007). When you look at this thing, you might think: how easy it is to do it. A deep province, a village house (the owners at one time escaped from the bustle of urban life), representatives of three generations of the family gather. Summer, sun, close-ups, leisurely narration, disassembly and clarification of the relationship between mother, sisters, spouses. The rhythm of the film is perfectly maintained. You either appreciate it or you hate it, as it often happens with the best art house stuff. Summer nature digests its heroes like porridge on a slow fire. As a result, the viewer decides for himself. He does not receive ready-made solutions, he is not imposed on anything, he is a co-author, an accomplice, he sunbathes himself in these Chekhov gardens. The director plays the role of an outside observer and does it very skillfully.
Have a good time.