Aimee & Jaguar

 

 

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A story of forbidden love in WWII Nazi Germany, "Aimee & Jaguar" follows the lives of two very different women: Felice Schragenheim, a Jewish revolutionary sneaking through Germany under a false German name. Then there is Lilly Wust (pronounced 'Voost', in German) whose husband is a Nazi soldier fighting on the Eastern front, leaving her at home with four boys. Frau Wust's babysitter, Ilse, is one of Felice's many girlfriends and when Felice is introduced to Lilly, she falls madly in love. She writes Lilly love poems and signs them as Jaguar and soon, the two are forced to accept their feelings for one another amidst the hatred and odium.

A movie of raw power, "Aimee & Jaguar" is not a story just about love but also accepting it in times of need and fear. You may find yourself crying and i admit, i cried myself (i cry endlessly when seeing Felice's and Lilly's "mistake" when coming home from the picnic, i cry every time i see that part). The love scenes here are done tastefully (and quite romantically, may i add) and the words of wisdom are...amzing. especially when Felice is talking about "Now's" and Lilly talking about "50 years of one person"...Powerful!!

This film impressed me from begining to end. It is one of those few films about two women in love that doesn't drag in all the extra baggage that one usually sees (besides the unavoidable things caused by the time setting) It's simply about two women finding each other in a desperate and unsettling time. Jaguar is such a strong character and is portrayed beautifully by Maria Schrader who's performance was flawless. I think the film does a good job of building and conveying the strength of the relationship in the short time it has. The passion and intimacy of the love scenes is brilliant! What works beautifully is the concentration on their story but with an integration of several other issues brought on by World War II. It provides a much different perspective on the war than most people are used to. I recommend getting the DVD so you can see all the extras about the real Aimee and Jaguar. I fell in love with this film right away and have watched it many, many times now. It is one of my favorite movies ever and I can't emphasize enough how much I recommend it to everyone!

Felice (aka Jaguar) is a Jewish woman living in Berlin during WWII. In her underground life she is the dynamic center of a group of avant-garde lesbian women artists and eccentrics and a sinful seductress of fair-haired women. She is avant-garde in her tastes and in her always stylish appearance; with her dark eyes and perfect form she looks like she has walked out of a painting by Klimt or Schiele. She uses her charms on her female conquests and to assist the resistance in any way she can. As a secretary for a prominent Nazi newspaperman she has access to valuable information which she covertly passes on. Felice presents a convincing facade but beneath the elegant profile and pretty lipstick and dark eye-shadow is a woman who lives in fear . So it is shocking at first that Felice should be drawn to the very blonde and very Aryan and very bourgeoisie Lily Wust. And yet it makes perfect sense too. Because Lily is the perfect German Felice feels safe in her home and in her bed. These two are instantly drawn together from the first time they lay eyes on one another. Felice immediately goes about seducing Lily even though Lily is married and has four children and has never had a lesbian relationship. Reluctantly at first but then wholeheartedly Lily succumbs to Felice's advances. And once they take that first trembling step they both realize they are made for each other. Soon they are living as a couple in Lily's large apartment while her husband is away at the front. The bliss these two find together is something to behold; for the first time in their lives they feel a content they've never felt before. Felice's friends at first can't believe the avant-garde Felice has fallen for the bourgeoisie Lily but soon they all can see its the real thing and they all accept her. Eventually, however, the husband stumbles onto what is going on when he arrives unexpectedly one night and finds the women in bed together. Lily is utterly devoted to Felice and decides to leave her husband and for awhile things are perfect for Lily and Felice (Aimee and Jaguar are their pet names for each other)but one night when they come home from a perfect day of swimming in the country and tumble on the floor kissing each other in the dark of the apartment they hear a voice -- a Gestapo agent and his men -- tell them to enjoy that kiss for it will be their last. This is not a perfect film but it does a few things so well that you are willing to forgive it for its few minor faults. The most important thing in a film like this is the chemistry between the two leads and that we believe it when they say that they are in love and we do.

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4.0 out of 5 stars Lesbian splendor
Two aspects of Aimee and Jaguar can be seen in a negative light. The first is that it's subtitled, so it takes a bit of work. Read more

Published on Sep 13 2003 by rainboknows

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing...
Aimee and Jaguar is an astounding film- almost eerie in its realism. The DVD features are amazing- especially the photo gallery of pictures of Lilly and Felice. Read more

Published on Aug 18 2003 by Cameron

5.0 out of 5 stars Aimee and Jaguar
A breathtaking true love story, with great performances, specially Juliane Köhler in the role of a nazi wife seduced by a jewish woman. Read more

Published on Jun 28 2003

5.0 out of 5 stars realistic atmosphere
Wonderful film. One feels as though one is there in the company of Felice, Wust, Ilze and the others just one step ahead of the Gestapo. Read more

Published on Jun 2 2003 by Alexander Janums

2.0 out of 5 stars Maria Schrader nearly saves this movie
There is a remarkable performance contained within this unremarkable movie. It is given by Maria Schrader whose brilliant portrayal of the revolutionary Felice Schragenheim... Read more

Published on May 24 2003

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful despite the subtitles
What else can I say. Aimee and Jaguar was a wonderful love story. This is one of the best Lesbian Movies I've purchased so far. Read more

Published on Feb 28 2003

5.0 out of 5 stars enjoyed in spite of subtitles!
I normally do not enjoy foreign films since watching subtitles tends to be a frustrating venture for me. Read more

Published on Jan 30 2003

5.0 out of 5 stars EXCELLENT movie!
Oh my god, I just bought "Aimee & Jaguar" on dvd never having seen it, just because the back of the case looked interesting! Read more

Published on Jan 17 2003 by L. Birdsall

5.0 out of 5 stars A compelling love story of two women
Aimee et Jaguar is a moving and compelling love story based on the true story of two women caught in the chaos of Berlin during WWII... Read more

Published on Oct 5 2002

5.0 out of 5 stars What does true love feel like?
It feels like you feel as you watch this film. I don't care who you are, if you've ever been in love, or been in love and lost it, this film will touch you deeply as it has me,... Read more

Published on Sep 25 2002 by Kelli Mitchell

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