Watch Bis Gleich

Bis Gleich is a touching and heartwarming German drama film that tells the story of two elderly neighbors who find comfort and companionship in each other's company. The movie was directed by Benjamin Wolff and was released in 2014. The story unfolds in a small apartment building in an urban neighborhood, where two people from different worlds, yet of a similar age, discover their mutual loneliness and develop an unlikely friendship. The two main characters are Mrs. Gisela (Gertrud Roll), a thoughtful and compassionate old lady who lives alone, and Herr Schmitt (Horst Westphal), an austere and solitary man who lost his wife years ago.

The film begins by introducing Mrs. Gisela as she goes about her daily routines, such as feeding the pigeons and watering her indoor plants. She is a quiet woman who spends most days confined to her small and cluttered apartment. One day, while returning home from the grocery store, she trips and falls in the hallway. Herr Schmitt, who happens to be passing by, helps her up and takes her inside her apartment. From there, they begin to have conversations that eventually lead to a bond and a strong friendship.

Mrs. Gisela and Herr Schmitt's dynamic is one of intense contrast. While Mrs. Gisela is gentle and kind, Herr Schmitt is stern and exacting. Mrs. Gisela is an optimist who looks for good in all places, while Herr Schmitt is more pessimistic and a firm believer in the power of practicality. Through these differences, they learn a great deal from one another. For instance, they both learn that they have much in common, and they find common interests to bond over. They learn more about themselves, and in the process, they find that life can be deeply rewarding and fulfilling even during the twilight years. As such, the story of Bis Gleich emerges here as a testament to the human spirit's resilience and the power of human connection.

Despite how deeply frail and feeble it may seem at first, this unlikely friendship becomes the driving force for both characters' lives. It's important to note that, during their interactions, each character struggles with their individual pains and losses. What they do have in common is that they both have lost someone they loved. From this shared experience, Mrs. Gisela and Herr Schmitt find comfort in one another's company, and soon, they find out that the mutual solace they offer to one another is essential to their survival. As they sit in Mrs. Gisela's small apartment, drinking tea and talking, the two of them create their own little world, one of company and closeness.

As their relationship deepens, the two neighbors increasingly rely on one another, so much so that they eventually start to depend on each other more profoundly than they ever thought they could or would. Although some tensions rise and obstacles exist, both understand that this deep connection is what keeps them alive, so they begin to communicate more honestly and to open themselves up emotionally to others. Conversations that were once strained and halting become more comfortable and more candid. The story of Bis Gleich is one of friendship, courage, and the realization that, even in later life when it is easy to feel adrift, companionship can still exist if we seek it.

In closing, Bis Gleich is a remarkable film that teaches us a lesson about the power of human connection. It uncovers the value of reaching out to others, even when life seems bleak and sorrowful. It demonstrates how two fractious characters from different backgrounds and personalities can come together and, through sheer force of will, make something beautiful from a tough situation. The characters, Mrs. Gisela and Herr Schmitt, played to perfection by Roll and Westphal, represent a masterful display of acting, with the chemistry they exhibit endowing the movie with an undeniably compelling allure. No doubt, anyone who loves realistic human-centric stories should watch this work.

Bis Gleich is a 2015 romance movie with a runtime of 20 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.9.