''Barefoot'' (German title ''Barfuss'') is a 2005

romantic comedy Romantic comedy (also known as romcom or rom-com) is a sub-genre of comedy and Romance novel, romance fiction, focusing on lighthearted, humorous plot lines centered on romantic ideas, such as how true love is able to surmount all obstacles. Ro ...

film by German actor and director

Til Schweiger Tilman Valentin Schweiger (; born 19 December 1963) is a German actor and filmmaker. He became known in the 1990s for films such as '' Manta, Manta'', '' Der bewegte Mann'' and '' Knockin' on Heaven's Door''. He went on to star in international ...

. It tells the story of Nick (Schweiger), a

hedonistic Hedonism is a family of philosophical views that prioritize pleasure. Psychological hedonism is the theory that all human behavior is motivated by the desire to maximize pleasure and minimize pain. As a form of egoism, it suggests that peopl ...

bachelor, who helps and eventually falls in love with Leila, an escaped psychiatric patient portrayed by Johanna Wokalek. Schweiger also co-wrote the screenplay, which is based on American screenwriter Stephen Zotnowski's original screenplay and story "Barefoot". An American remake, ''

Barefoot Being barefoot is the state of not wearing any footwear. There are health benefits and some risks associated with going barefoot. Shoes, while they offer protection, can limit the flexibility, strength, and mobility of the foot and can lead ...

'', was released in 2014.

Plot

The life of Nick Keller (

) can hardly be called well sorted. He stumbles from one temporary job to the next, and he has very serious problems with Heinrich, his rich and influential stepfather, as well as with his brother Viktor. Nick's latest temporary job is as a cleaner in a

psychiatric clinic A psychiatric hospital, also known as a mental health hospital, a behavioral health hospital, or an asylum is a specialized medical facility that focuses on the treatment of severe mental disorders. These institutions cater to patients with ...

, where he prevents the barefooted patient Leila ( Wokalek) from committing

suicide Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Risk factors for suicide include mental disorders, physical disorders, and substance abuse. Some suicides are impulsive acts driven by stress (such as from financial or ac ...

just as he is being fired from this latest employment. Leila's story is also complex. The first nineteen years of her life she had been confined at home by her mother. She has been hospitalized in the clinic after her mother's death, but is desperate to leave. However, emotionally Leila is still a child. For example, everything that she is told, she takes literally; and she dislikes physical contact with strangers. The unexpected consequence of Nick's saving Leila from hanging herself is that Leila secretly follows her saviour, in her nightdress and once again barefooted; and she appears in front of his door that night. After Leila adamantly refuses go back to the clinic, she and Nick go on a road trip together in order to attend his brother's wedding to Nick's ex-girlfriend. During the trip the relationship between the two deepens significantly. However, after serious disputes with his family, Nick once again tries to hospitalize Leila. As a result, he has to confess to himself that he has fallen in love with her. Nick is then arrested for attempted kidnapping, and Leila is brought back to the clinic. Nick pretends to have mental problems so he can go into the clinic with Leila, but only after Leila once again attempts suicide does her doctor admit him. The last scene shows them together shopping in a supermarket some months later, after their release from the clinic.

Cast

as Nick Keller * Johanna Wokalek as Leila * Nadja Tiller as Frau Keller * Steffen Wink as Viktor Keller *

Michael Mendl Michael Mendl (born Michael Sandrock; 20 April 1944) is a German actor. He has appeared in more than 100 films since 1975. He is best known internationally for his role in ''Downfall (2004 film), Downfall'', the 2004 movie about Adolf Hitler's f ...

as Heinrich Keller *

Alexandra Neldel Alexandra Monika Neldel (born 11 February 1976) is a German actress from Berlin. Career Neldel worked as a dental assistant before she was discovered by the boss of a Berlin casting agency during a polo competition. He helped her audition f ...

as Janine * Imogen Kogge as Dr. Blöchinger * Janine Kunze as Sarah Sommer * Stefanie Stappenbeck as Jessica * Axel Stein as Truck driver * Markus Maria Profitlich as Car dealer 1 * Mark Keller as Car dealer 2 *

Éric Judor Éric Judor (; born 25 July 1968), sometimes simply called Éric, is a French actor, director, screenwriter and comedian. He gained notoriety by forming, together with Ramzy Bedia, the comedy duo Éric et Ramzy. After several feature films with ...

as L'homme

Critical response

The film was generally well received and was awarded the German Media Award

Bambi ''Bambi'' is a 1942 American Animated film, animated Coming of age, coming-of-age drama film produced by Walt Disney Productions and released by RKO Radio Pictures. Loosely based on Felix Salten's 1923 novel ''Bambi, a Life in the Woods'', the ...

as the best German film of 2005.

References

External links

Official site
* 2005 films 2005 romantic comedy films German romantic comedy films 2000s German-language films Films directed by Til Schweiger 2000s German films German-language romantic comedy films Touchstone Pictures films Buena Vista International films {{2000s-Germany-film-stub