Sergeant Major Charles Eismayer (Gerhard Liebmann) has a reputation for being the toughest training officer in the Austrian Armed Forces. Known for his aggressive behaviour and his strict discipline, Eismayer is feared by military officers until a new intake, which brings the openly gay and seemingly fearless Falak (Luka Dimic) into his life. With a wife and child at home, Eismayer is fighting to keep his true sexuality a secret and he takes his anger out on Falak, who he starts to fall for. When his attraction is reciprocated, Eismayer’s world threatens to collapse around him.
Inspired by true events ‘Eismayer’ is a surprisingly tender story about coming to terms with your sexuality later on in life. For Sergeant Major Charles Eismayer, he believes he can suppress his true feelings by indulging in the occasional fling before returning home to his ‘normal’ family. Of course, Eismayer is nowhere near as discreet as he thinks he is with his wife sat at home wondering where he gets to at night and his officers, although fearing him, aware of rumours about his sexuality. Falak’s arrival throws Eismayer’s world into chaos because his usual tactics don’t work on him. The harder Eismayer tries to humiliate Falak, the more Falak fights back.
Inevitably the two men cross the line between sergeant and officer, falling into bed and embarking on a secret affair. While the two men find solace in each other, both has a very different vision of what their future could look like. Falak believes that anything is possible and he wants to be open about the romance, but Eismayer is desperate to keep their romance secret fearful of what others may say about him. He also has his wife and child to consider too, but he’s able to compartmentalise them while he carries on his affair.
Gerhard Liebmann gives a truly fearless performance as Eismayer. He shouts, spits and forces his way through the early part of the film, truly embodying the terrifying sergeant stereotype that we see in so many military films. What marks his performance out is that he’s just as capable of handling the film’s more tender moments, such as those with his son and when he’s in the arms of Falak. Liebmann has a capable screen partner in Luka Dimic, who borders on the right side of cocky and optimistic. The two actors pull strong performances from one another and it’s the reason the film has the impact it does.
The disc features a behind-the-scenes documentary with interviews from the cast and crew.
‘Eismayer’ is a surprisingly sweet film that will likely leave you feeling a little choked up. It’s a tale of love against the odds and knowing it’s inspired by true events makes the story all the more remarkable. At the end of the film, a photo of the real Eismayer and Falak is presented on screen and you can’t help but feel a little emotional. While the beats of the story may not be all that original, film-maker David Wagner puts his heart into the film and that radiates with the care he gives to developing the romance between the central characters.
Cast: Gerhard Liebmann, Luka Dimic, Julia Koschitz Director: David Wagner Writer: David Wagner Certificate: 15 Duration: 87 mins Released by: Peccadillo Pictures Release date: 20th November 2023 Buy ‘Eismayer’ now
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