Watch The Man With the Answers

The Man With the Answers is a picturesque road-trip film that blends the genres of romance and self-discovery against the backdrop of Europe's diverse landscapes. The film presents a poignant tale about two young men who embark on a serendipitous journey across countries, inadvertently uncovering the answers to some of life's most personal questions along the way.

Directed by Stelios Kammitsis and released in 2021, this narrative is woven around the life of Victor, played by Vasilis Magouliotis, a 22-year-old Greek former diving champion now living with his grandmother in a sleepy coastal town in Greece. Victor embodies a young man at a crossroads, bound by routine and familial duty with dreams and aspirations of his own simmering below the surface.

After the death of his grandmother, Victor finds himself unmoored, prompting a decision that will alter the course of his life. On a spontaneous whim, he picks up his few belongings and sets out with no clear destination, leaving behind his past and allowing the road to guide him. His aimless wanderlust leads him to encounter Matthias, portrayed by Anton Weil, an enigmatic and free-spirited German drifter, who is traveling in a car inherited from his late mother.

Matthias' personality is the polar opposite of Victor's—adventurous, unbound, and seemingly without care for the conventional expectations of life. The film uses their contrasting characters to set the foundation for an unconventional comradeship that blossoms into an intimate and transformative bond. The juxtaposition of Matthias' spontaneous and carefree approach to life against Victor's reserved and contemplative nature serves as the crux that presents The Man With the Answers as more than a mere travelogue.

As the two journey onwards, the stunning and diverse European landscape unfolds before them. From the blue shores of Greece traversing through the Italian countryside to the Alpine regions and beyond, the film visually encapsulates the essence of wanderlust and the beauty of experiencing different cultures and vistas. The cinematography gracefully captures these changing settings, painting each frame with vivid imagery that invites the viewer to feel as though they are part of the journey.

Amidst this scenic backdrop, conversations between Victor and Matthias delve into the realm of personal philosophies, past experiences, and future aspirations, employing the road-trip as a metaphor for their internal voyages. The chemistry between the lead actors is palpable, their gradual connection and the mutual understanding they develop are portrayals of genuine human connection, reflecting on the themes of identity, sexuality, and companionship.

Stella Fyrogeni, who is also a part of the cast, enhances the story's dynamics, bringing additional depth and context to Victor's life. Although her role is less central compared to Victor and Matthias, her character's influence reverberates through Victor's motivations and attitudes towards life and obligation, knitting the narrative together and offering poignant moments that resonate with the complex familial bonds and expectations one grapples with.

The narrative does not shy away from dealing with LGBTQ+ themes and subtly interweaves elements of queer romance into the plot, doing so with a tenderness that is both genuine and relatable. Yet, the film stands out by not reducing its characters solely to their sexuality but instead presenting them as whole individuals on their own paths of self-discovery and identity seeking.

Throughout the film, moments of silence and reflection are as telling as the dialogue, allowing for an emotional resonance to build. The characters find themselves not only geographically but emotionally and philosophically, where each stop on their journey uncovers layers of their personas and beliefs, stripping away pretenses and revealing the stark and unadorned truths of who they are.

Music in The Man With the Answers also plays a subtle but integral role in shaping the film's ambiance. The soundtrack, with its soothing and sometimes melancholic tunes, mirrors the internal and external movements, crafting the film's rhythmic pace while enhancing the narrative's emotional beats.

As a film, The Man With the Answers does not seek to provide a neatly packaged conclusion or definitive answers to the questions it raises. Instead, it allows viewers to journey along with Victor and Matthias, offering a reflective and touching exploration of the connections we forge and the paths we choose to discover who we are or who we have the potential to become. This movie invites audiences to ponder their own answers and life directions while enjoying the unfolding companionship and surprising turns of its protagonists' travels.

The Man With the Answers is a 2022 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 20 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.8.