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The Beginner streaming

Original title: Die Anfängerin
2018 Movie Germany Drama, Sport, Family 98 min
By: Alexandra Sell With: Maria Rogozina, Annekathrin Bürger, Ulrike Krumbiegel

Annebärbel's life and feelings have become as frigid as a block of ice. At the age of 58, she stands as an unfriendly monument to former times. As a doctor, she shows little compassion, and as a wife, not much love. Only her domineering mother elicits human emotions from her. Negative ones at that. No matter what she does, it is never good enough for her mother. Even less so since her daughter took over her practice. But everything starts to change when Annebärbel's husband leaves her and she is forced to take stock of her life. In the process, she makes a journey deep into her past, and attempts to live her childhood dream, which she had to give up all these years ago due to her mother: figure skating. With wobbly, tentative legs, she steps into a world full of chilly magic: the skating rink. This is when she has to admit that people are part of the equation as well, and they haven't exactly been waiting for "Dr Horrid" to come stumbling in front of their blades. The misanthropic Annebärbel has to endure a wide array of interpersonal conflicts, before she finds, on the ice rink, the kind of warmth she didn't know she needed: she forms a warm friendship with a young woman who is a top athlete, a group of aged amateur skaters show her how to lust for life, and she meets the 1974 World Figure Skating Champion, Christine Stüber-Errath, from Berlin. And so it is the ice that makes Annebärbel open up, and begin to emancipate herself from her mother and her own icy ways.

Mood

Empowering
Heartwarming
Inspirational
Inspiring
Melancholic
Reflective
Touching

Cast & Crew

Alexandra Sell
Maria Rogozina
Ulrike Krumbiegel
Annekathrin Bürger
Alexandra Sell (Director)
Anne Bärbel Buschhaus (Protagonist)
Annebärbel Buschhaus (Character)
Berlin Light Spot Media
Christine Errath (Former Champion)
Christine Errath (Real-Life Idol)
Christine Stüber-Errath
Female Leads
Strong Performances
Supporting Characters

Adaptation

Based On Book

Budget

Low-Budget
Mid-Budget

Cinematic Technique

Character-Focused
Close-Ups
Dialogue-Driven
Dynamic Visuals
Handheld
Intimate
Intimate Framing
Naturalistic
Traditional

Narrative Structure

Character-Driven
Character-Focused
Coming-Of-Age
Linear
Slice-Of-Life

Pace

Character-Driven
Meditative
Moderate
Reflective
Slow-Paced
Steady

Runtime

Long Runtime

Soundtrack

Emotional Music
Subtle Score

Style

Character-Driven
Cinematic
Drama
Dramatic
Emotional
Realistic

Time-Period

2010S
Contemporary

Central Conflict

Family Tensions
Generational Conflict
Identity Struggle
Overcoming Emotional Barriers
Overcoming Loneliness
Personal Conflict
Personal Liberation
Reconnecting With Past
Rekindling Childhood Dreams
Self-Discovery

Characters

Champion Skater
Elderly Woman
Ice Skater
Middle-Aged Woman
Midlife Woman
Mother Figure
Mother-Daughter Relationship

Ending

Empowering
Hopeful
Personal Renewal
Renewed Confidence
Self-Discovery

Historical Context

2010S
Contemporary
Present-Day

Key Plot Points

Breaking Free From Maternal Control
Forming New Friendship
Meeting Former Champions
Meeting Former Idol
Overcoming Emotional Barriers
Return To Ice Skating
Revisiting Childhood Dreams
Self-Acceptance

Plot

Coming-Of-Age
Elderly Protagonist
Female Friendship
Friendship
Overcoming Obstacles
Personal Growth
Rejuvenation
Reunion With Ice Skating
Self-Discovery

Setting

Berlin
Ice Rink
Ice Skating Rink
Ice Skating Rinks
Urban

Shooting Location

Berlin
Cologne
Ice Skating Rinks

Theme

Ageing
Aging
Empowerment
Female Empowerment
Friendship
Overcoming Challenges
Personal Growth
Personal Renewal
Rejuvenation
Self-Acceptance
Self-Discovery

Genre

Character Study
Coming-Of-Age
Drama
Sports

Audiences

Adults
Drama Lovers
Family
Ice Skating Enthusiasts
Midlife Audience
Teens
Women

Titles

Die Anfängerin
La Débutante
The Beginner

Reception

Festival Premiere
German Cinema
Positive Reception

Production Countries

Germany

Release Year

2017
2018
mowizz ID: 8cadf281-dfd2-47de-9edb-0c108b231255
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