neumu [ cinematronic ]




	In July
	Fatih Akin Moritz Bleibtreu, Christiane Paul 2000		Following agreeable young lovers in motion, "In July" is tantamount to a German version of the John Cusack-Kate Beckinsale romantic fable "Serendipity" and recalls the buttoned-down-guy/free-spirited-girl-on-the-road love story "Something Wild." On its own terms, "In July" is a winning, picaresque caper that begins when cute, uptight physics teacher Daniel (Moritz Bleibtreu) catches the eye of pretty, spontaneous neo-hippie Juli (Christiane Paul) on the streets of Hamburg. Juli thinks Daniel could be the man for her, so she invites him to a party happening that night. Mistake. Daniel goes to the bash and meets Melek, a beautiful Turkish girl on her way to Istanbul the next day. Smitten with Melek, Daniel resolves to follow her by car into the heart of Eastern Europe. The disappointed Juli happens to be going on vacation, and, hitchhiking out of Hamburg, she's picked up by none other than Daniel. Suspension of disbelief is a must for watching "In July," but it's a balmy break from the norm.