Yella (Nina Hoss), the title character in German writer- director Christian Petzold’s thriller, is leaving her sleepy town for a well-paying job in a city.
She accepts a ride to the train station from her estranged husband, a borderline psycho who has a nasty habit of stalking her.
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“I love you, Yella,” he says, as he drives the car off a bridge and into the Elbe. The two emerge from the sunken car and crawl onto the riverbank.
The scene recalls Herk Harvey’s 1962 cult thriller “Carnival of Souls,” which Petzold says influenced him, and viewers who have seen that black-and-white creeper will probably figure out what’s to come. Others (the majority, no doubt) will be taken in by Petzold until the twisty finale. In either case, “Yella” makes for interesting viewing.
“Yella”
Not rated, contains sexuality and corporate crime. 1 hour, 29 minutes. In German with English subtitles. Directed by Christian Petzold; starring Nina Hoss, Devid Striesow, Hinnerk Schonemann, Burghart Klaussner and Barbara Auer. Opens today at the Neighborhood Flix.
