A Major Disappointment

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

"Fickende Fische" is a German movie from 2002, so this one has its 15th anniversary this year. It was written and directed by Almut Getto and she won a German Film Award for her screenplay here. It is also her most known work to this date. This is basically the story of two teenagers and how they fall in and out of love in the face of one of the two suffering from a severe illness. This could have been the premise of a pretty good movie and I also think the actors were good enough to make this become a success or even triumph. Mewes is okay, Rogall is even better and deserving of her German Film Award nominations. This is a drama for the most part, and sadly there are quotes and moments when the writer apparently wanted to make things lighter and included some stupid plays on words for example that really hurt the film a lot. There is not one major flaw with this film, but a handful of minor flaws, which eventually hurt the viewing experience for me a lot. Another example would be the ending, where the film really tries to be so memorable and important and spectacular instead of going for convincing subtlety. Besides this, there are more moments that felt not really authentic or realistic like for example how they keep meeting repeatedly early on in a pretty big city. Quite a shame really that there are more than just a few lows and that they are really low lows. I believe this film had amazing potential really and with better focus and the omission of some cringeworthy moments and scenes this film could not only have made an important statement, but even it could have been a really good coming-of-age film / love story. I just wish that Getto could have chosen subtlety more on many occasions. Anyway, the way it turned out eventually I can not agree at all with the award win for Best Screenplay at the German Film Awards. And I am also not really surprised she did not deliver in terms of quality a better film or one that managed to become as known as this one here. I give "F***ing Fish" a thumbs down and this title actually summarizes the movie perfectly. It tries to be bold and outrageous and that's what it causes to fail while all the fish references were pretty smart and witty, but the way it is shoved into our faces destroys this creativity. A thumbs-down for this movie and also for the fact that I have to censor the film's title because otherwise IMDb won't let me send it. Watch something else instead.

I had been looking for this movie for a long time because my brother had seen it in a festival and told me how great it was. However, not even once during the time I spent searching for this movie did I read a summary of the plot, I had no idea of what the story was, I knew that the title meant 'Fucking Fish' or something like that but I never stopped thinking of what it would be about; so today as I was watching the movie I was becoming increasingly satisfied and surprised by the plot. It is a love story, but it is told in a magnificent way and due to the conditions of the relation it is not your average love story. Acting is amazing and the characters are easy to identify with. I'm not telling anything more, because I believe the best way to enjoy this movie is being unaware of it beforehand, let the movie take you by surprise.I know this movie is not easy to get (at least in my country), so if you can get ahold of one copy, watch it and see for yourself why this is a beautiful and excellent story.

Almut Getto created something only a few filmmakers are able to - an intimate portrait of young people falling in love for the first time. Although it all happens with one of the protagonists being HIV-positive, this is not another melodramatic movie about AIDS. No! "Fickende Fische" is first and above all a love story among two 16 year olds with all the normal problems, and AIDS being "just" one of them. Getto and her young actors perfectly walk the narrow line between intimate feelings and unrelenting fate - and manage to make the viewer an intimate part of this relationship.Just as if we were one of the protagonists ourselves we feel our heart beat as they touch almost unknowingly for the first time; and feel with them each and every step of the following relationship."Fickende Fische" is a small movie. One of those that ask the audience to become a 16 year old boy or girl and fall in love again - and to deal with AIDS not in an AIDS-movie, but tragically and comically at the same time in a little big love story.