Petzold paints his films as much as he writes them. The value of a scene without dialogue, or a scene boxed in music, an actor’s look, a raised eyebrow, all these things are part of an understanding of the subtle power of the image. Language only serves to join the dots, and sometimes the story is richer for the dots not being joined. His films tend to be chamber pieces. Mirrors no.3 is a four hander. The premise is simple. A mother whose daughter recently died meets a woman who is lost. The equation works until it doesn’t. Whilst Paula Beer and Barbara Auer fulfil their roles beautifully, the film is notable for the performances of the two secondary male leads. With less to work with, Matthias Brandt and Enno Trebs conjure concise, astute portraits of men not necessarily cut out for emotional complexity facing up to a situation where their masculine virtues serve little purpose. The quiet desperation is captured by actors and director with the skill of a great portrait painter. Mirrors No.3 is an elliptical, cryptic, obvious, and quietly brilliant study of grief.
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