Watch Young Goethe in Love

The movie "Young Goethe in Love" is a historical drama film released in 2010. It tells the story of the German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, one of the most influential poets and intellectuals of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Directed by Philipp Stölzl, the movie stars Alexander Fehling as Goethe and Miriam Stein as his love interest, Charlotte Buff.

The movie takes place in 1772, when Goethe was just 23 years old, and had failed his law exam. His father, a wealthy lawyer, sent him to the sleepy town of Wetzlar, where he was to work as a clerk in a court. The idea was to keep him away from the distractions of his bohemian lifestyle, and focus on a more stable career path. However, Goethe was restless and eager to embrace his artistic aspirations.

In Wetzlar, Goethe quickly fell in love with Charlotte Buff, a young woman from a respectable family. Charlotte was beautiful, intelligent, and kind-hearted, but she was also engaged to a dull and conventional man named Kestner. Despite their mutual attraction, Goethe and Charlotte knew that their love was impossible. They were from different social classes, and Kestner had the right of first refusal.

The movie explores Goethe's struggle to come to terms with his feelings for Charlotte, and his attempt to find meaning and purpose in his life. He was torn between his passion for literature and his duty to his family. He was also deeply conflicted about whether to conform to the expectations of society, or to pursue his own dreams and desires.

The film portrays Goethe as a talented, but flawed, young man. He was arrogant, impulsive, and sometimes reckless. He wore his heart on his sleeve, and was prone to mood swings and outbursts of emotion. He also had a tendency to get into trouble, either by challenging authority or by succumbing to temptation.

Despite these flaws, Goethe was a fascinating character, and Fehling portrayed him with depth and nuance. He captured both Goethe's intellectual curiosity and his vulnerability, and made the audience root for him even when he was making mistakes.

Meanwhile, Stein gave a fine performance as Charlotte. She was elegant, poised, and dignified, but also conveyed a sense of inner turmoil. She was torn between loyalty to her fiancé and her feelings for Goethe, and struggled to reconcile her sense of duty with her desire for happiness.

Other standout performances include Moritz Bleibtreu as Goethe's friend and confidante, Albert Kestner, Christian Friedel as the idealistic poet Kaufmann, and Burghart Klaußner as Goethe's stern and disapproving father.

The movie is beautifully shot, with stunning cinematography that captures the lush landscapes of Germany in autumn. The costumes and set design are also top-notch, and transport the audience back to the 18th century.

Overall, "Young Goethe in Love" is a moving and thought-provoking film that offers a fresh perspective on a literary icon. It's a tale of youthful passion, artistic ambition, social barriers, and the universal search for meaning and identity. With a strong cast and a compelling story, it's a movie that will resonate with audiences of all ages and backgrounds.

Young Goethe in Love is a 2010 romance movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 42 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.6 and a MetaScore of 55.