One Line Review: Two couples decide to swap their partners for four weeks, and in the process, they break a major rule.
YouTube Trailer The Four of Us
Starring: Nilam Farooq, Jonas Nay, Paula Kalenberg
Director: Paula Kalenberg
Release Date: Oct 15 2021
Introduction
German drama, Du Sie Er & Wir (meaning “You, She, He, and Us” in English), is now available to stream on Netflix in its entirety. Florian Gottschick, Nilam Farooq, Paula Kalenberg, Jonas Nay, and Louis Nitsche star in this film directed by Florian Gottschick. Florian, together with Florian Von Bornstädt, wrote the screenplay for the film. In addition to English dubbing and subtitles, the film is in German.
Plot Analysis
Following the failure of their partner swap experiment, four friends travel to a remote beach hut to deal with the fallout and cleanse themselves of deeper truths, according to the synopsis for Du Sie Er & Wir.
After discussing it with their partners for four weeks, two couples (Nilam Farooq, Louis Nitsche, Jonas Nay, and Paula Kalenberg) decide to swap roles. The partner-swap experiment is governed by one important rule: no sex! After 4 weeks, the couples who have been swapped meet again at the beach house to have dinner together and get to know one another a little better. One of the swapped couples, however, violated the ‘no sex’ rule, causing chaos in everyone’s lives.
Planning and execution
On paper, The Four of Us appears to be an intriguing concept, albeit one that is far-fetched. Despite the fact that the plot twists are predictable, what the characters go through and how they deal with their relationship after the failed experiment are worth considering. Is it always the case that sleeping with someone equates to being in love with them? The couples are also tasked with figuring out how to answer this difficult question.
With a dash of drama, intense emotions, and some comedic relief, the German Netflix film ‘The Four of Us’ is a must-watch. In the film, one of my favorite scenes is when the couples perform a ‘Eye Gazing Exercise.’ We may deceive others with our words or deceive ourselves with our actions, but looking deeply into someone’s eyes will always reveal what is on the inside.
As both couples struggle to come to terms with the catastrophic failure of their experiment, they are also attempting to rebuild trust and intimacy. Despite the fact that sex means crossing all boundaries, nothing is more important to them than their emotions. So, will they be able to resolve the issues and return to their original partners or will they be forced to work with the swapped partners? The answers will be revealed at the conclusion of the film.
What’s wrong though?
When it comes to what doesn’t work – It’s a story that won’t appeal to everyone, for obvious reasons. It is possible that not everyone will accept the couple swap story in order to discover who truly loves whom. Those who disagree with these couples may argue that they are toxic and shouldn’t be together. However, neither the characters nor the story are without flaws. In terms of an anti-fidelity plot, it had every chance of going horribly wrong, but Florian Von Bornstädt and Florian Gottschick were in complete command of the situation.
Conclusion
Overall, Du Sie Er & Wir is an engrossing romantic saga that is well worth your time. Although the experiment’s premise appears absurd, the underlying message is heartwarming in its simplicity. Especially if you enjoy deep, meaningful relationship dramas with a dash of levity, you should give it a shot at least once.
