A young woman being stalked by her ex, has an affair with a handsome venture capitalist. Christian Petzold's Yella is not that simple.
Yella is remarkable with a strong cast. Nina Hoss is Yella from first scene. Yella is independent and intelligent. She is moving on with her life and moving away from her father and ex, Ben (Hinnerk Schoenemann). Schoenemann makes Ben a personality nightmare as kind and begging one moment, and violent the next. Philipp (David Striesow) is the knight in shining armor who offers a challenging job, and real love.
The film has clues to the story hidden throughout. Subtle suggestions come from music, sounds and light. The deeper meaning is not revealed until the end. It is as big as The Sixth Sense.
Petzold's style is stark and minimalist. Rooms are simple and seem close to natural lighting. Shots are composed to add an unnatural edge. The effect molds the story from simple to sublime.
Yella is an enigma. It is bold and risky in story. Nina Hoss makes it a joy to watch like watching Run Lola Run for the first time. Yella is entertaining mystery to be enjoyed.