Fashion Victims – Reine Geschmacksache (2007)

Directed by: Ingo Rasper | 94 minutes | comedy | Actors: Edgar Selge, Florian Bartholomäi, Roman Knizka, Franziska Walser, Traute Höss, Horst Krause, Gottfried Breitfuss, Lara Beckmann, Janna Wangenbach, Jessica Schwarz, Irm Hermann, Eva Löbau, Elert Bode, Susanna Fernandes-Genebra, Sabine Hollweck Hörmann, Waldemar Kobus, Marcus Michalski, Friedemann Nawroth, Susanne Rasper, Tina Recknagel, Max Rossmer, Heiderose Scheerer, Joram Voelklein

‘Fashion Victims’ makes short shrift of the idea that sales representative in women’s clothing is an exciting profession. It’s a drag track. Every season you visit the same frumpy boutiques with clothes from the new collection. Repeating the same story over and over again: just look at what a beautiful fabric, what good quality… Wolfgang Zenker seems to like routine. The arrival of a competitor is therefore very unwelcome. In addition, the contrast between the men could not have been greater: Wolfgang is a very solid citizen, Steven is young, fast, wild and gay. The film seems to aim for a collision between two worlds, but in practice it is not that bad.

‘Fashion Victims’ has the air of a film that has been shelved for twenty years and has only just been released. So old-fashioned, and that is probably partly conscious. The film music, the frumpy interior of the Zenkers, Dad’s glasses that are too big, mother dear who is unhappy and who lets a resolute girlfriend stir up a divorce, it’s all very eighties. In addition to this faded glory, the budding love between Karsten and Steven should light up like a neon sign, but it doesn’t. The relationship between son and lover is much less elaborated than the relationship between father and son. Because of this ‘Fashion Victims’ lacks the necessary spice (the film is suitable for children of six years and older), but on the other hand it is also refreshing that a gay relationship is not accompanied by an exaggerated drum roll.

‘Fashion Victims’ is a cross between coming of age drama, romantic comedy and comedy. At the end of the film, everyone involved ends up in the same guest house for a farcical apotheosis, followed by the inevitable happy ending. The fact that ‘Fashion Victims’ keeps the attention is due to the good acting (particularly by Selge and Bartholomäi) and a number of funny and sensitive scenes. Like the comment Wolfgang makes to a customer who is flattered by Steven: “Do you now believe that you are a size 38?” Or the surprisingly subdued scene in which Karsten explains to his father that he is gay. “So it’s clear that you like men?” Wolfgang asks. “Yes daddy, that’s for sure”, Karsten answers firmly. And that’s the end for father and son. What applies to women’s fashion also applies to love: there is no arguing about taste.