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Bungalow is a German drama film directed by Ulrich Köhler and released in 2002. The movie revolves around the life of a young man named Paul, a soldier who has returned home from a deployment in Afghanistan. The film explores the psychological effects of war, displacement, and cultural differences. The story is set in a remote, run-down bungalow colony in the outskirts of Berlin. The colony consists of small bungalows surrounded by empty lots, tall grass, and fields, giving the impression of a desolate and bleak landscape. In this isolated, abandoned place, Paul is sent to work as a gardener by his commanding officer. The bungalow he is assigned is in poor condition, and he has to fix it up himself.

Paul spends most of his time alone, tending to the garden and the bungalow. He becomes familiar with the other residents of the colony, including a family who lives nearby and a group of young people who hang out by a nearby lake. Paul also happens to see some strange things happening around the colony, which he cannot explain.

As the story progresses, we learn more about Paul and his experiences in Afghanistan. He struggles to fit back in with his old life and tries to come to terms with the traumatic events that he witnessed while he was overseas. He becomes increasingly paranoid and sees enemies everywhere, making it difficult for him to trust others.

The movie also delves into the relationships between the various characters. Paul becomes friends with an old man named Max, who has lived in the colony for decades. We also see him develop a romantic interest in a local woman named Kerstin, who works in a kitchen nearby. However, his paranoia and suspicion often get in the way of these relationships.

One of the most distinctive themes of the film is the sense of dislocation that many of the characters experience. The bungalow colony is a kind of liminal space, located between the city and the countryside. The residents are isolated from the outside world, and many of them seem to have lost a sense of purpose or direction in life. Paul, in particular, feels lost and adrift, unable to find his place in the world after his time in the military.

Another theme that the movie explores is the trauma that soldiers experience in war. Paul's experiences in Afghanistan have left him scarred emotionally, and he struggles to find a way to come to terms with what he has been through. The film depicts his attempts to numb his pain with alcohol and drugs and his growing sense of paranoia and disorientation.

Overall, Bungalow is a slow-paced but thought-provoking film that explores the themes of trauma, displacement, and dislocation. The performances by Lennie Burmeister, Devid Striesow, and Trine Dyrholm are all excellent, and the film beautifully captures the atmosphere of the bungalow colony. While not necessarily for everyone, Bungalow is a powerful and affecting film that provides a unique insight into the experiences of soldiers returning from war.

Bungalow is a 2002 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 22 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.4.