Young Goethe In Love

A lush costume drama chronicling the early formative years of Germany’s most famous literary genius.   

A story of love lost, Philip Stölzl’s engrossing historical biopic covers the passionate and tumultuous period (circa 1772) in the young writer’s life before he penned the enormously influential The Sorrows of Young Werther. An impetuous troublemaker, Johann Goethe is a bored legal clerk who dreams of being a poet. After failing his doctorate, he halfheartedly attempts to build a law career, but rebels against his father’s wishes by persisting in his writing. Then the luminous Lotte enters his life. A intense, whirlwind romance blossoms, but it is a star-crossed love as Lotte is betrothed to another... This first experience of love, and the unbearable heartbreak that resulted, would change the literary world forever.   

Vibrant cinematography, assured directing from Philip Stölzl, and a particularly strong performance from bright newcomer Alexander Fehling as the young writer, serves to craft a rich, modern saga in the vein of Shakespeare in Love and Amadeus. Widely known German star, Moritz Bleibtreu (Run, Lola, Run) appears as Lotte’s (Miriam Stein) betrothed.

Print Source: Music Box Films, Suzanne Fedak, sfedak@musicboxfilms.com