Aimée & Jaguar

(Aimée & Jaguar)

Synopsis:

In 1943, while the Allies are bombing Berlin and the Gestapo is purging the capital of Jews, a dangerous love affair blossoms between two women. One of them, Lilly Wust, married and the mother of four sons, enjoys the privileges of her stature as an exemplar of Nazi motherhood. For her, this affair will be the most decisive experience of her life. For the other woman, Felice Schragenheim, a Jewess and member of the underground, their love fuels her with the hope that she will survive.

Quick Thoughts:

Overall, I wasn’t a huge fan of “Aimée & Jaguar” – but I can’t quite pinpoint why. Told via flashbacks, the plot is a bit difficult to follow. Complicating things is the fact that it’s set during a very dangerous time in Berlin. Everyone is on edge, but for a Jew or for a homosexual – it’s deadly. The emotions within scenes change at the drop of a hat, often explosively. Juxtapositions, such as Lily’s explorations and newfound romance with a female lover set the building tension and plot onto a pedestal whose fall is inevitable – just like the fall of Berlin. This haunting queer war film not easy to watch, but we cannot disregard the importance of retelling the real-life romance between Lilly Wust and Felice Schragenheim. For that reason alone, this is a crucial queer film to watch.