What It’s About
Distinct stories from three different time periods all unfold around the same gorgeous gingko tree at a university in Marburg, Germany. In 2020, Dr. Tony Wong (Leung) is a visiting professor studying the sensory capacity of plant life just when COVID hits; he take solace in video calls with botanist Alice (Seydoux). In 1972, straitlaced student Hannes (Brumm) confronts relaxed sexual norms with the sexy, liberated Gundula (Burow). Finally, back in 1908, Grete (Wedler), the university’s first female applicant, endures sexism and hostility during her entrance interview with a panel of (all-male) faculty, but perseveres.
Why We Love It
Hungarian director Enyedi presents a deep, deliberate meditation on the mysteries of nature, and our eternal connection to it. Beyond the unmoving gingko tree that unifies the three tales, “Friend” offers another consistent element: the subtle, nagging isolation affecting its three central characters across time. On the positive side, they also share an outsize sense of wonder at the seemingly infinite plant life surrounding them. Lean on this “Friend”; it’s a quiet winner.