‘What Marielle Knows’ Review: In This Darkly Clever German Comedy, a Teenage Girl Can See Right Through Her Parents

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In a unique blend of Yorgos Lanthimos’ quirky, dark humor and M. Night Shyamalan’s twisty plotlines, I found myself utterly captivated by the dark supernatural satire, What Marielle Knows (Was Marielle weiss). This film masterfully transforms a typical Hollywood high-concept into a biting comedy that delves deep into the turmoil of a wealthy family, leaving no stone unturned in its critique.

The second film by German director Frédéric Hambalek is a significant improvement over his low-budget debut, “Model Olimpia“. While both films explore similar themes, this one stands out due to its polished design and strong performances, although it may lack depth in certain aspects. Premiereing in competition at the Berlinale, it has the potential to attract attention from high-end art house distributors. Additionally, there’s a possibility for remakes; however, a more commercially viable version might need to omit explicit sexual dialogues and instances of child abuse.

I see everything my parents do.

In this movie, titled “Laeni Geiseler,” the main character mysteriously gains the ability to secretly observe her parents, Julia and Tobias, as well as their activities wherever they might be – whether it’s at work, driving, or even behind a closed bedroom door, after she is struck by her best friend.

In a world where families are often portrayed as idyllic, this strange occurrence would undoubtedly create quite a ruckus. However, Marielle’s family is far from the conventional ideal, despite their seemingly ordinary lives filled with a spacious suburban home and high-powered executive careers.

hidden beneath her jovial exterior, Julia finds herself engaged in some rather explicit flirting with a work colleague named Mehmet Atesci. Conversely, Tobias, who heads the marketing team at a publishing company, struggles to assert authority and endures humiliation during a meeting that leaves him feeling powerless. Despite maintaining an outward appearance of marital bliss, their true situations are exposed when their daughter claims she can see through their lives with X-ray vision, causing them both to modify their behavior accordingly.

This leads to a variety of humorous and intense scenes that provoke thought-provoking queries: Are we consistent individuals within and outside our family circles? What does it signify to remain true to oneself, as Julia repeatedly emphasizes, when being truthful might harm those dear to us? Is life merely an ongoing act where we constantly disguise ourselves as others?

The open scrutiny that Marielle now has over her parents’ actions is causing them distress and disgust. Initially, they attempt to improve their behavior or put up a façade of doing so, but this often worsens the situation. Subsequently, they respond by increasing their questionable actions – be it Julia pushing her office romance excessively or Tobias attempting to strengthen his position at the company, only for it to lead to unfavorable consequences instead.

Hambalek effectively builds tension throughout the story, gradually escalating the family’s turmoil and despair convincingly. He also injects humorous moments, such as a scene where Julia and Tobias converse in French since they believe their daughter won’t comprehend another language, which is a common tactic among real-life parents to keep conversations private.

Marielle Knows‘ main theme can be simply summarized as a thought-provoking exploration of the importance of privacy in our lives, using a creative premise. Although not entirely new, it effectively emphasizes this concept, particularly relevant today when many individuals publicly share their thoughts and actions via social media. (At one point, Marielle’s parents suspect she illegally accessed their phones to monitor them.)

The plotline concerning Marielle lacks depth in the film, making her feel less like a genuine character and more of a vessel for the story’s events. She doesn’t seem to have a well-rounded personality, despite some suggestions that her parents may have neglected her. However, their relationship appears insignificant when the action commences. Both her parents have engaging narratives, but Marielle contributes little to the film, primarily seen brooding with her psychic abilities – until the closing scene, which leaves us questioning whether her powers will endure beyond the story’s conclusion.

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2025-02-18 08:24