A German Tragedy
Genre: Drama / Romance
Director: Noah Baumbach
Writer: Wyatt Allen
Cast: Adam Driver, Sam Rockwell, Eliza Scanlen, Margarita Levieva, Jim Sturgess, Geoffrey Rush, Sophia Bush
Plot: A small theater in New York, it’s the last show of the season. They are playing Romeo and Juliet. It’s the last scene, Romeo (Jim Sturgess) and Juliet (Margarita Levieva) are laying dead on the floor. The seats are not filled at all and the people watching don’t seem to be too excited to be there.
Theo Wagner (Adam Driver) carefully looks through the curtains, trying not to be seen, to take a look at the reaction of the audience. Once again he is devastated that there is only very little interest and excitement to see.
After the show Theo is at the office of John Hayward (Geoffrey Rush), the owner of the theater. Hayward hated not only the show, he also hated that the audience hated it and the critics hated it, probably even the actors hated it. He tells Theo that he wants to see results quickly as they can’t afford another downer season like this. He gives Theo only the next season to prove himself, if they don’t drastically get better, he has to give the power to someone else, someone who will be better.
Theo is wandering down the streets of New York at night, thinking about his life. He sees the big city lights, the advertisements of all the big shows around the city, the people coming out the theaters and cinemas in awe of that they just saw, discussing with their friends what they just witnessed together.
In an apartment in New York. Fragile things are being thrown intentionally to the ground by an angry women (Sophia Bush). The woman seems to be ranting about her boyfriend, she is telling herself she is an idiot for believing that she would be the one to change him. Telling herself that everybody told her from the start that it’s not a good idea, but she was dumb enough to ignore them. She even paid the rent for him when he struggled to find a job as an actor because of his attitude and how did he thank her? By sleeping with her best friend. Blake Stewart (Sam Rockwell) steps into the scene trying to calm his girlfriend down. He is telling her that it was just an accident that can’t be undone, but he is sure he will find a job soon, as the world can’t seem to get enough of him. His ex-girlfriend tells him to fuck off and go to hell, as she hopes to never see him again. She also adds that after almost raping that actress at his latest movie he will never find work again. Stewart throws on his jacket and leaves the apartment.
He walks down the streets of New York as he runs into Theo. Theo recognizes Blake Stewart as one of his old high school classmates. He tells him that they did one show together when Blake was in his senior year. Blake starts to remember Theo, saying that he always thought that he was pretty talented for his age. Theo explains to him that he is now the director of a theater here in New York, but he is really not doing well right now as he is seriously considering to look for something else. Stewart tells him that he is a movie actor but would love to do theater for a change, he asks him why doesn’t want to do theater anymore. Theo tells him that they haven’t been as successful as he would like to. Blake tries to convince him to hang on and disguises his wish to play for him as a favor for an old friend. He wants Theo to let him audition at least one time. He also asks Theo if he could sleep at Theo’s place today as his place doesn’t seem to be available for him tonight. Theo is very skeptical of this, but he agrees to let him stay at his place for one night
At Theo’s place Blake Stewart discovers a bunch of applications for different reality and trash TV formats written by Theo. Stewart didn’t know that they used screenplays for those. He tells Theo that it would be career suicide to exchange theater for a format like this. Under the applications, he could also find a screenplay about Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s Faust. He asks Theo about it because he doesn’t remember what it’s about. Theo explains that it’s a German tragedy about a scientist who is failing to find the cure to the plague making its way to his city. He meets Mephisto the devil who makes a deal with him, promising to change his life for the better. Stewart is interested he wants to act out a scene with Theo.
They act out the scene where the protagonist Dr. Heinrich Faust read out by Theo is making the deal with Mephisto who is read out by Blake Stewart. Stewart’s performance is phenomenal, Theo is carried away by Stewart’s interpretation of the character. He wants to work with Stewart. Stewart holds his hand out telling him that this is kind of like making a deal with the devil, but he wants Theo to trust his vision when agreeing to work with him. Theo shakes it, they decide to order some Pizza and spend the whole night refining the screenplay.
The next day Theo Wagner presents his finished play to John Hayward. He likes it and tells Theo once again that he has great expectations for next season.
Nina Pritchard (Margarita Levieva) the women who played Juliet in the first scene and her friend Eliza Thompson (Eliza Scanlen) are sitting at a bar. Nina is talking about the state of their theater and how it’s not sustainable if they continue like this, she thinks it might be time to get a different director. Eliza thinks that Theo is really talented he just needs some time to do really great things. Nina is wondering why Eliza is defending him as he always casts her in very minor roles. Eliza tells her that she just didn’t really have the chance to showcase her skills to him. She really wants to impress him before the next season starts, because she thinks a lot of him, as they get interrupted by two guys approaching them. The guys are hitting on them which Eliza is more uncomfortable with than Nina. Nina flirts with one of them, while the other guys who is trying to flirt with Eliza soon notices that his effort is not going to be successful as Eliza is pretty reserved. Nina is taking they guy she flirts with home to the apartment she shares with Eliza. Eliza is unlocking the door while Nina is making out with the guy. Eliza quickly rushes to her room to give them their space.
The next morning Nina leaves her room, telling Eliza that she can come out of her hiding place as the guy he spend the night with has already left. Eliza asks her how it was. Nina tells her the guy was a complete wimp. They both laugh. Eliza tells her that they have to go soon, as they are having the big meeting today. Eliza is already ready to go, Nina just puts on something she could find laying around.
The whole ensemble came together to see what they will show next season. Theo introduces Blake Stewart to the ensemble and finally proudly shows them his play of Faust. He hands out a copy to everyone and wants them to read and study it. He would like them to think about which role they could be playing, even though he already has a bit of the cast in mind he is open for ideas.
Stewart talks to Theo and tells him that he noticed a certain interest for Theo in Nina, as he caught him looking at her a couple of times. Theo explains to him that it’s nothing and he just imagined her as Gretchen a role in the play, which Nina as their leading actress seems to be fitting for. He is focused on the upcoming season and nothing else.
They are doing a couple table reads to get to know the play better as Blake Stewart introduces himself to Nina. He tells her he needs her help as he is really interested in Eliza but he noticed that she is really shy and that’s why he would like Nina to come with them as he brings Theo with him to loosen up the situation a bit.
The four have a picnic in the park. The two girls are just leaving to go to a restroom, as Stewart tells Theo that he thinks that Nina and him are really looking good together. Theo is unsure about it, but Stewart reminds him of the deal they made and how Stewart promised to make his life better if Theo trusts him. He tells Theo that he is the main man of this whole production and really should take advantage of it, because that is how it goes.
Theo and Nina are talking about the theater and that next season they really have to deliver. He opens up to Nina and tells her he will lose his job if they don’t bring more people to the seats. Theo counts on Nina and tells her that she will probably once again play a big role in the show. The night comes to an end as Nina says goodbye to Theo with a kiss.
A lot of the ensemble are trying out for different roles. Nina is of course trying out for the role of Gretchen. Gretchen is Dr. Heinrich Faust’s love interest in the play and also the female role with the most „screen“ time. Nina’s confident and easy demeanor is a hindrance for her to play Gretchen. She is struggling to play the more reserved and insecure character.
Eliza is also trying out for Gretchen, she doesn’t seem to struggle as much as Nina, on the contrary it’s almost like she was born to play Gretchen.
Nina and Theo are having a date and are playing mini golf. This time they met without Blake and Eliza and have a lot of fun without them. The night ends in Theo’s apartment where Nina ensures Theo that she will help him to make this season a lot better than the last one as they make out and eventually have sex.
Blake Stewart and Theo meet up to discuss the casting and further planing. Theo tells Stewart he wants James Reeves (Jim Sturgess) as Dr. Heinrich Faust, he played Romeo last season, his performance was unspectacular but solid. Blake will play Mephisto and Nina will play Gretchen. Stewart is not so sure about Nina playing Gretchen, he tells Theo that he probably knows better than him, that Eliza is the better Gretchen. Theo tells him he can’t pick Eliza after everything he has said to Nina. Stewart says that if Theo picks Nina to play Gretchen it will be just as bad as last season.
Theo is watching closely as Nina tries out for Gretchen and he soon has to admit to himself that Blake is completely right, there is no way Nina could successfully play Gretchen.
It’s the day the cast will get announced. Theo is reading the cast from a paper, when announces Eliza as Gretchen, he looks up to see Nina’s reaction. Nina is looking like she misheard it, but soon realizes that she heard it just right. After finishing the announcement it gets a bit loud as everyone is congratulating each other on getting a certain role. Theo is trying to make his way to Nina, who is already coming at Theo. Before he can start explaining himself Nina slaps him in the face and than storms out of the building.
The rehearsals start and Nina is nowhere to be found. Theo is trying to call her but she is not answering. Eliza tells him that Nina doesn’t want to see any of them. She even criticized Eliza for taken her role.
They are playing out a couple scenes from the play. James Reeves as Dr. Faust is summoning Mephisto, of course played by Blake Stewart, who is promising to make Faust’s life better if he is making a deal with him. They soon visit a witch kitchen to brew him a potion that will make the old scientist young again. Faust meets Gretchen played by Eliza on the street and gets rejected by her. Faust wants to be with her and tells Mephisto to make her his mistress or else the deal is off. Mephisto is figuring out a way to bring them together
Theo is looking for reconciliation with Nina and she finally agrees to meet up with him. They are drinking a coffee together and Nina tells him that she felt really screwed over by Theo. First he sleeps with her and tells her how important she is for the theater and than he casts her best friend and room mate in the role that was supposed to be hers. She says she loves Eliza but she knows that she is the way better leading woman and is the more talented actress between the two, Theo ensures her that Eliza is not replacing her it’s just that Gretchen’s characteristics fit Eliza perfectly and it would be a shame not to use it to their advantage. Nina tells him that she is done with the theater, she tells him she already had offers before and now decided to agree to them. Theo is devastated to hear that, he didn’t want to lose Nina, but he sees that she already made the decision.
Mephisto is gifting Gretchen jewelry in Faust’s name. Faust and Gretchen fall in love and are in search of some time alone but Gretchen’s mother is in the way. Mephisto is handing Gretchen a sleeping potion to give to her mother so Faust and Gretchen can have some time alone. Gretchen and Faust spend the night together only to find out the next morning that the sleeping potion was deadly and Gretchen’s mother will not be waking up from it. Gretchen is ashamed of her decision to give her mother the sleeping potion, so is her brother who is plotting to revenge his mother’s death. He is hunting down Faust and Mephisto. Mephisto incites Faust to fence with Gretchen’s brother which he decides to do. During the fence duel Faust pierces through his opponents body, killing Gretchen’s brother too. Mephisto and Faust flee.
Gretchen is in the church, after losing her mother and brother and also not having heard from Faust, she is on the brink of insanity. A ghost appears reminding her that it’s all her fault, the ghost also confirms Gretchen’s assumption about her being pregnant. Gretchen faints. Suddenly Theo wants them to stop.
He is not happy with the scene, as he thinks that Eliza could portray Gretchen’s hopelessness and frustration a bit better. He explains that this is the climax of Gretchen’s character. He reminds Eliza that after that, Gretchen’s goes on to kill her newborn and gets the death sentence. Theo says the doesn’t get this energy from Eliza’s performance at all, she is not even close. Eliza is apologizing to Theo, holding back tears.
Theo is in his office doing some paperwork, as Eliza comes in wanting to talk to him. She tells him that she thinks she is not the right person to play Gretchen and feels like Nina would play a better Gretchen than her. Theo disagrees, as he saw Nina trying to play Gretchen and not even coming close to the way that Eliza is portraying her. He is telling Eliza that she is doing great, it’s only the last scene that she is struggling with. Eliza is opening up to Theo saying that she is really blaming herself for Nina’s current situation, revealing that Nina lied about having other options and is now desperately trying to make ends meet. Theo is surprised to hear that but ensures Eliza that she is not responsible for Nina’s situation.
Nina is coming out of Hayward’s office with a smile on her face. Blake Stewart is running into her, asking her what she ís doing here. She tells him that Theo reached out to her, offering to put out a good word for her in trying to get her job back. She asks Stewart what he is doing here so early today, looking at the comfy clothes he is wearing. Stewart tells her he sleeps here, as his living situation is currently a bit chaotic. Stewart tells her that he is glad that Nina is back, as he couldn’t understand why she left. He wondered why Nina was so upset when Theo slept with her and than chose Eliza for the role, telling her that it’s a pretty normal thing to do in the show business. He also adds that it wouldn’t surprise him, if Theo also has slept with Eliza. Nina tells him that he should stop talking bullshit and rather go look for a place to live, so that he doesn’t have to sleep in the props room.
It’s the day of the first showing. Eliza is practicing the church scene in front of the bathroom mirror in her apartment, suddenly her phone alarm goes off reminding her that it’s time to go to the theater. On her way out of the apartment Nina is waiting for her, she tells Eliza that even though things were complicated between them she wishes Eliza nothing but the best. Eliza thanks her and makes her way out of the apartment
The first show exceeds expectations, the additions of the brilliant Blake Stewart as Mephisto and innocent Eliza as Gretchen are paying off. Especially Stewart’s performance captivated the audience, some people really looked scared when Mephisto gets summoned for the first time as Stewart is playing his role to perfection. After the show the whole ensemble is happy and in the mood to celebrate their great start to the season, they decide to go to a bar together. Eliza is texting Nina that she should come too, but she doesn’t text her back.
After a couple drinks the normally tense Eliza loosens up a bit and has some fun with the rest of the ensemble. Stewart shows that he is not only a great actor, he is also really good at partying. He is dancing a little crazy with Eliza for a while to the amusement of the others. After a while Eliza sits down next to Theo in need of a break. Theo notes that it’s nice to see her like this after all she went through. Eliza replies that she still didn’t get the church scene right but Theo tells her that it doesn’t matter because she did great. Eliza thanks him for giving her the chance. He says that she deserved it. Eliza smiles at Theo and they come closer until they start to kiss.
Nina was just entering the bar as she sees Eliza and Theo kiss, with a skeptical look on her face she turns around and leaves.
The next day just before their next show Eliza is once again practicing in front of the bathroom mirror. Nina just enters their apartment asking Eliza why she came home so late this morning. Eliza explains that the whole ensemble was celebrating the success of the first show. Nina asks Eliza if she has slept with him. Eliza is a bit confused, asking Nina what she is talking about. Nina thinks that Eliza is taking her for a complete fool, as she noticed how Eliza looks at Theo. Nina wants to make sure that Eliza knows that she will never be as good as her and Eliza is just next in line to get replaced when Theo gets bored. Nina turns around wanting to leave but Eliza replies that if she really was that good she would’ve easily found another job and wouldn’t have to pathetically beg Theo and Hayward to get her job back. Nina starts to attack Eliza. A scuffle between them starts to ignite until Eliza pushes Nina off of her, causing her to stumble back and to unfortunately hit her head on the bathroom sink.
Nina is unconscious, Eliza is in shock, holding her hand in front of her face. She is looking for signs of life, as suddenly her phone alarm starts to go off, telling her that it’s time to go the theater. She thoughtfully looks at the still unconscious Nina and decides to go and leave her alone.
Eliza is in a chair in front of a mirror getting her make up done. Her legs tips nervously up and done. The make up artist is noticing that Eliza is even more nervous than at the first show.
The show starts and Eliza is playing Gretchen to perfection. For the first time she is able to get the church scene just right where Gretchen breaks down because of her mother’s and brother’s death and also her unwanted pregnancy. The audience can feel the guilt, the frustration, the hopelessness. The curtain closes, the audience stands up and applauds. Eliza has done it, she looks over at Theo, who was watching the show hiding behind the curtain just as he always does. Theo is proudly applauding together with the audience, recognizing Eliza’s astonishing performance. A smile starts to build on Eliza’s face.
