Aimée & Jaguar (2000)
90%RT Audience Score: 85%
Awards & Nominations: 8 wins & 4 nominations
Aimee & Jaguar is a film that delicately balances the complexities of love and war, all while exploring the taboo nature of a lesbian romance in Nazi Germany. Director Max Frberbck’s feature debut is a breathtakingly beautiful and evocative portrayal of a narrative milieu rarely seen on screen. The film’s solid supporting cast and stunning visuals make for an engaging and moving drama that is both powerful and touching. While occasionally overwrought, Aimee & Jaguar is a rewarding viewing experience that is not to be missed.
Aimée & Jaguar is a movie that will make you feel all the feels. It’s a love story set in Nazi Germany, which sounds like a recipe for disaster, but somehow it works. The two main characters, Aimée and Jaguar, are both strong and complex women who you can’t help but root for. The movie is beautifully shot and the acting is top-notch. It’s definitely a tear-jerker, so make sure you have some tissues handy. But don’t worry, it’s not all sadness and despair. There are moments of joy and hope that will leave you feeling uplifted. Overall, Aimée & Jaguar is a must-watch for anyone who loves a good love story, especially one that’s a little unconventional.
Production Company(ies)
Romaine Film Corporation,
Distributor
Zeitgeist Films
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Hansaviertel, Tiergarten, Berlin, Germany
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
1999
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby SR
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:2h 7m
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Language(s):German
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Feb 10, 1999 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 20, 2001
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Maria Schrader, Juliane Köhler, Johanna Wokalek, Heike Makatsch, Elisabeth Degen, Detlev Buck, directed by Max Färberböck, written by Erica Fischer, Max Färberböck, Rona Munro, drama, Nazi Germany, LGBTQ+, World War II, love affair, sexual taboos, Jewish underground, Felice Schragenheim, Lilly Wust, Hanno Huth, Günter Rohrbach, Zeitgeist Films, Dolby EX, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Dolby Stereo, Flat (1.85:1), $927.1K, 90% Tomatometer, 89% audience score, reviewed by Melissa Anderson, Ella Taylor, Jane Sumner, Charles Taylor, David Wood, Patrick Peters, Emanuel Levy, Andrew L Urban, Louise Keller, Cole Smithey, Boyd van Hoeij, Philip Martin, LGBTQ+ romance, historical drama, wartime romance, forbidden love, powerful, touching, poignant, engrossing, subtle, nuanced, beautiful, sensual, vibrantly real, affecting, rewarding viewing, rarely seen on screen, gripping examination, subtly shaded script, strong cast
Worldwide gross: $927,107
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,664,183
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,461
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 181,481
US/Canada gross: $927,107
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,664,183
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,083
US/Canada opening weekend: $42,919
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $77,041
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,043
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): DEM 15,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Juliane Köhler – Lilly Wust (Aimée)
Johanna Wokalek – Ilse
Heike Makatsch – Klärchen
Elisabeth Degen – Lotte
Detlev Buck – Günther Wust
Director(s)
Max Färberböck
Writer(s)
Erica Fischer, Max Färberböck, Rona Munro
Producer(s)
Hanno Huth, Günter Rohrbach
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
8 wins & 4 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (49) | Top Critics (17) | Fresh (44) | Rotten (5)
Impassioned — if occasionally overwrought.
May 24, 2022
Melissa Anderson
Out Magazine
TOP CRITIC
A sophisticated and beautiful feature debut from German television director Max Frberbck.
October 2, 2002
Ella Taylor
L.A. Weekly
TOP CRITIC
A vivid slice of life — and love — during the 1944 Allied bombardment of Berlin.
February 14, 2002 | Rating: B-
Jane Sumner
Dallas Morning News
TOP CRITIC
The film … isn’t up to the complexities the story raises, but it’s a consistently engrossing piece of work.
August 9, 2001
Charles Taylor
Salon.com
TOP CRITIC
Rewarding viewing, evocatively re-creating a narrative milieu and war-time Berlin rarely seen on screen.
July 3, 2001 | Rating: 3/5
David Wood
BBC.com
TOP CRITIC
With a solid support cast, this is always an engaging and moving drama.
May 3, 2001
Patrick Peters
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
A well acted, sensual tale of lesbian romance set against the tumultuous setting of WWII and the Holocaust.
August 2, 2011 | Rating: B
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
It’s a breathtakingly beautiful film, never mawkish, never less than vibrantly real and never more affecting than when it explores the nature of a love that ‘dare not speak its name’, not in Nazi Germany
April 10, 2010
Andrew L. Urban
Urban Cinefile
Startlingly poignant, Aime and Jaguar is a story about dreams. If you have ever dreamed, don’t miss it.
April 10, 2010
Louise Keller
Urban Cinefile
Powerful and touching. Good touching.
August 14, 2007 | Rating: 4/5
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com
June 10, 2006 | Rating: 4/5
Boyd van Hoeij
european-films.net
September 7, 2004 | Rating: 2/5
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette…
Plot
Berlin 1943/44 (“The Battle of Berlin”). Felice, an intelligent and courageous Jewish woman who lives under a false name, belongs to an underground organization. Lilly, a devoted mother of four, though an occasional unfaithful wife, is desperate for love. An unusual and passionate love between them blossoms despite the danger of persecution and nightly bombing raids.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Maria Schrader, who played Felice Schragenheim (Jaguar) in the film, also directed and co-wrote the popular German TV series “Unorthodox” on Netflix.
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