Paul Krantz (Daniel Bruhl) and his friend Günther Scheller (August Dieh) are high school students in Berlin who have just one thing in common: their desire to live life to the full, and die when it has reached its peak. Set in the Weimar Republic, Germany in 1927, it is the posthumous account of their suicide pact and murderous plot. Poet Paul comes from a working-class background, while Günther is a wealthy playboy. They take a weekend trip to Günther's family summerhouse, where his bohemian sister Hilde (Anna Maria Mühe) is staying. Paul is attracted to her and they share an intimate weekend before Hilde returns to the city to meet up with Hans (Thure Lindhardt), a former lover of her brother's. Meanwhile, the boys make a pact that when they no longer feel any love, they will end their lives and take with them those who have stolen their love. This sets the stage for a weekend of love, debauchery, and betrayal, as Paul and Günther throw a wild party during which true loyalties are revealed. They must decide whether to take the ultimate step in life: death. Their friends arrive and an all night party begins. Hans can't resist joining the party, although he knows Günther has never really gotten over him. High on music and Absinthe, emotions and desires mix with jealousies, and a deadly idea grows in Günther's head: if we are not loved, we must take the ones we love with us.
Based on true events (the Steglitzer Schülertragödie), director Achim von Borries tells the story well at a slow pace, and obtained good performances from an excellent cast. Daniel Bruhl's work is particularly good. The movie is presented in its original German with subtitles, and although the picture quality is very good, it's obviously a low budget art house picture. This somewhat melancholy film has the English title "Love In Thoughts".
