Cloud 9 Looks at Passion Over 60

If you live in New York or Los Angeles, you might want to check your local theaters for the opening of a German film on Friday, August 14th (NY) or Friday, August 28th (LA).

CLOUD 9 won the German equivalent of the Academy Award for Best Actress for Ursula Werner. She portrays Inge, a 67 year old happily married seamstress who falls madly in love with a 76 year old customer. They begin a passionate love affair that is as physical as it is emotional.

What a courageous performance by Werner, who puts everything right out there on the screen. Watching her scenes of love-making with all the wrinkles and sags in full view was amazing. She was so believable, I felt embarrassed, as if I was watching a woman I knew reveal a secret that was too private to share.

Werner's powerful performance was complemented by Horst Westphal, who plays her handsome lover. And Horst Rehlberg, who plays her husband of 30 years, shows the disbelief,anger and deep sadness that one would expect. When he says to Inge: "I thought we were past anything like this" he seemed to be speaking for a society that rarely admits that age doesn't diminish the capacity to fall in love...butterflies in the stomach, joyful orgasm and all.

Director Andreas Dresen did a brilliant job and deserved his German Film Award for Best Direction.

In the end, Inge regrets the pain her affair has caused her husband and cries out to him: "I didn't ask for this" several times. But in one honest admission to her supportive daughter, she admits she always hoped that she would fall in love once more in her lifetime. A longing that no doubt resides in many female hearts, over 60 or not.