I totally agree with two of the reviews of this film. Mari Bensel totally owns this movie as Sophie Zimmerman, the secretary embroiled in East/West espionage in the 70's. An easy way to hide the seventies setting is to set most of the film in one place, i.e a holding cell. The other leads are also good, just a shame you kind of knew what was going to happen. Sophie, trust nobody.
The Man on the Other Side
2019
Action / Thriller
Plot summary
It is 1974, and in the Cold War paranoia of East and West Germany, it can be dangerous to know too much. But time is running out for Sophie Zimmermann. She is being hunted and the only way to survive is to find out the identity of The Man On The Other Side! In the style of classic 70s spy thrillers like Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Ipcress File and Day Of The Jackal, The Man On The Other Side transports you back to a world of double crosses, of dark deeds in grey Eastern European cities and of danger lurking behind every kiss.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
Director
Top cast
Tech specs
720p.WEB 1080p.WEB 787.14 MB
1280*600
English 2.0
NR
Movie Reviews
Reviewed by
Don't trust anyone
Reviewed by
Too many holes....
I'd love to rate this higher. Mari Bensel is captivating and easily the best part of the film. Hard to believe that her character thinks of herself as 'plain'. She's anything but. The camera work is good, and the acting is fine all around. The choice of a love interest for Ms. Bensel may leave viewers shaking their heads though. She and her lover make the oddest-looking odd couple the screen as seen in a long, long time. There are some good things in this film. Alas, both the plot and the plot devices aren't among them.
While the set-up that leads to the action is understandable and, perhaps, even believable, from then on anyone over the age of three can tell what's really going on and how it will play out. It's that obvious. Oh, and the plot holes.... too numerous to mention (for a spy movie, it seems the dumbest spies in the world were chosen to tell their tale) reduce the potential tension in the film to a whole lot of 'hey, what about???' moments. The worst part? The 'McGuffin', the reason or driving force behind all the action, is left in the wrong hands for any kind of resolution.
Enjoyed Mari Bensel from start to finish, but this film strained credibility way too many times.
Reviewed by
Look Here, Netflix!
Why doesn't Netflix have this on their platform? It's the perfect film for their demographics. Spy Thriller, 80s style, Gritty.
Despite the low budget, the film has an intelligent story to tell about the Cold War between East and West Germany, and the emotional toil it inflicts on people. Far better than those big, loud, annoying action films.
The lead actress Mari Bensel carries the film with a strong, gutwrenching performance.
Scenes are set in limited places, but works well for the story they are telling. Good footage of gritty, industrialised East Germany.