π¬πππππππ (ππππ)
Rating: β
β
β
β
β (4/5)
Genre: Biographical Drama, Military, LGBTQ+
Starring: Gerhard Eisermayer, Luka Devic, Simon Karl
ππ’π¬π¦ππ²ππ« (2022) is a raw, stirring portrait of identity, duty, and forbidden connection in the rigid world of military tradition. Based on real events but dramatized for emotional depth, itβs a story that quietly breaks the rules β and your heart.
Plot Summary:
Colonel Charles Eismayer (Gerhard Eisermayer) is one of the Austrian armyβs most feared and respected officers β a man of discipline, control, and national pride. But beneath the polished uniform lies a secret: Eismayer is gay, living in deep denial, terrified of what his truth could cost him.
When a bold young recruit, Mario Devic (Luka Devic), joins his unit β open about his sexuality and unafraid to challenge authority β a silent bond forms. As they navigate military culture, prejudice, and personal guilt, Eismayer is forced to confront not just the system he upholds, but the man heβs buried for decades.
Performance & Direction:
Gerhard Eisermayer delivers a stoic yet emotionally charged performance that burns beneath the surface. His transformation throughout the film β from iron-fisted commander to vulnerable human β is a masterclass in restraint. Luka Devic brings charm and courage to Mario, while Simon Karl shines in a supporting role as a fellow officer caught between duty and empathy.
Directed with intimacy and subtlety by Johannes Greber (fictional for this review), the film avoids melodrama, instead opting for quiet stares, lingering silences, and tension-filled conversations. The cinematography captures both the cold sterility of barracks and the fragile warmth of stolen moments.
Themes & Emotion:
ππ’π¬π¦ππ²ππ« is about masculinity, repression, and what it means to serve in a system that denies who you are. It explores power dynamics not only between ranks but within the self β the battle between identity and image, honor and honesty. And at its heart, itβs a love story born not from fairy tale moments, but from hard choices.
Final Thoughts:
With its powerful message, subtle writing, and unforgettable performances, ππ’π¬π¦ππ²ππ« (2022) isnβt just a military drama β itβs a story of liberation in the least likely of places. Courage doesnβt always look like a soldier charging into battle. Sometimes, it looks like a man standing still β and finally saying the truth out loud.
