You are here:
A Clear Felling

A Clear Felling

2018

Director

Max Gleschinski

Runtime

97 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

Martin and Eric grew up in a small village in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. They have been friends since they were little boys and met when they were fishing, and from then on went to the lake together every Sunday. But their friendship is also marked by rivalry, because on one of their trips together they also met Frenni, who both fell in love with. The three of them roamed the woods and fields as children and remained friends when they grew up and Frenni got together with Eric. The couple is inseparable and very much in love, and this great love and the friendship of the threesome is only repeatedly tested by the drunken attacks by Eric’s unpredictable, aggressive twin brother Basti.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

4.9/10

Fair


Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Good

The film centers on a queer romantic bond between Eric and Frenni. By making their love a foundational element of the story, the narrative moves beyond peripheral subplots to establish a stable emotional anchor.

Gender Representation

Fair

While the story explores emotional connections between the central trio, the tension is largely driven by male-centric aggression. This focus on male rivalry may limit the subversion of traditional gender hierarchies.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Limited

The setting in a small German village suggests a localized, homogeneous social group. There is no explicit evidence of racial blending or diverse casting within this rural demographic.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Fair

The narrative deconstructs idyllic village life through themes of subjective morality and social fragility. Conflict arises from individual dysfunction rather than established institutional or moral orders.

Disability Representation

Minimal

There is no evidence to suggest that character behaviors are linked to specific neurodivergent conditions. The aggression presented appears to be personality-driven rather than a representation of disability.

Strengths

  • Centers a queer romantic bond as a foundational narrative element.
  • Disrupts heteronormative thriller tropes through stable same-sex relationships.
  • Explores complex themes of subjective morality and social fragility.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lacks visible racial and ethnic diversity within its rural setting.
  • Relies heavily on male-centric conflict and aggression to drive tension.
  • Provides limited representation of neurodiversity or disability-related themes.

AI Analysis

A Clear Felling offers a meaningful exploration of queer intimacy within a thriller framework. The central relationship between Eric and Frenni provides a grounded emotional core that disrupts typical genre expectations. However, the film's impact is constrained by its localized setting. The narrative appears heavily focused on a homogeneous social group in rural Germany, which limits racial and ethnic breadth. Ultimately, while the film succeeds in centering LGBTQ+ dynamics, the reliance on male-driven conflict and a lack of intersectional diversity results in a specialized, rather than broad, social perspective.

How are these scores produced? →

Rate this Movie

No rating selected
Use arrow keys to select a rating from 1 to 5 stars
Optional text review, maximum 2000 characters
Tip: Wrap spoilers with ||double pipes|| to hide them
0/2000 characters
You must be signed in to submit a rating

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this movie!

Use the rating form above to leave a star rating and optional review.