Watch In the Aisles

In the Aisles is a 2018 German drama film directed by Thomas Stuber, starring Andreas Leupold, Franz Rogowski, and Peter Kurth. The movie revolves around the life of Christian, a new employee at a wholesale supermarket store, as he navigates his way through the mundane routine of his job and his complicated personal life. The movie begins with Christian enrolling in a new job at a massive wholesale superstore located in Leipzig, Germany. He is assigned to the beverage aisle and is trained by the store veteran and his new boss, Bruno. Initially, Christian seems to be an introverted, shy person who keeps to himself, making little conversation to his colleagues, but slowly, his affability and intelligence begin to shine through. He gets along particularly well with his co-worker, Marion, who works as a shelf-stacker in the sweets section.

As the movie progresses, we see how the routine of the job creeps into the personal lives of the characters. Bruno, who has worked in the store for almost his entire life, lives with his cat and drinks beer after work every day. His mundane life is sometimes interrupted by his old friend, Henry, who is a trucker and brings him a donkey to take care of. The donkey, named Goran, provides a few laughs and moments of compassion in the movie.

Christian's personal life is just as complicated as his colleagues is. The audience learns that Christian has just left his previous job due to a failed relationship with his boss's wife. The tension with the previous job is brought back when Christian sees his previous boss come to the store and business talks with Bruno. Furthermore, Christian secretly admires Marion, but her married status and their status as colleagues makes him hesitant to make a move. Their connection develops slowly over time as they exchange short conversations at their adjacent aisles.

The power dynamic between the employees and the trade union is also a central theme of the movie. The union frequently provides beer after the work shift, and Christian is hesitant to take it, causing some initial tension after he learns that refusing the free beer can cause friction among employees. However, despite the conflicts that arise, the workers come together when the threat of layoffs or automation arises.

In the Aisles, is a movie about life's mundanity, and how we navigate through it with the support of our colleagues, and the unexpected moments of compassion that come along with our daily routine. The cinematography is beautiful, and the slow pace of the movie allows the audience to fully appreciate the performances of the talented cast. Thomas Stuber's direction creates an immersive experience that makes the audience feel like they are spending their days in the supermarket with the characters.

The acting in the film is also exceptional, and each actor delivers a performance that captures the inner turmoil of their characters. Andreas Leupold's portrayal of Christian is particularly commendable, and he delivers a nuanced performance that captures the complicated emotions that his character is feeling throughout the movie. Franz Rogowski is also excellent as Bruno, portraying a man who is resigned to his life and finds solace in the daily routine of his job.

In conclusion, In the Aisles is a poignant movie about the mundanity of life and the connection we seek with others to overcome that mundanity. It is an emotional journey that explores the complexities of human emotion, but also finds humor and moments of unexpected kindness in the everyday lives of the characters. While it may not be an action-packed movie, In the Aisles provides a window into the lives of ordinary people that will stay with the audience long after the credits roll.

In the Aisles is a 2019 drama with a runtime of 2 hours and 5 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.9 and a MetaScore of 67.