Anna is 60 and her acting heyday is now behind her She lives on her own but has a friend and confidant in her downstairs neighbour Michel, who is also single Reluctantly, Anna accepts a job as a language coach for 17yearold Adrian who has a speech impediment and is something of a misfit She recognises him as the boy who recently snatched her handbag in the street Irresistible is the term that springs to mind when describing this lightfooted and humorous story of an impossible love affair between a thief and a lady Director Nicolette Krebitz handles the fragile balance between the dictates of society and the heart with great care The fresh breath of freedom blows through a narrative that makes room for a nod to old West Berlin, some gentle teasing of Germany’s French neighbours, and even a ghost that is chased away to make way for new possibilities But most of all, A E I O U is a passionate love letter to Sophie Rois and, perhaps through her, all the brilliant actors neglected by an industry all too fond of young blood Well, it turns out that these young players, embodied here by newcomer Milan Herms, not only look up to their more experienced peers, they truly love them
