Quartile rating: 7.5/10 · 1 rating
Niko, a twenty-something college dropout, lives for the moment as he drifts through the streets of Berlin, curiously observing everyone around him and oblivious to his growing status as an outsider. Then on one fateful day, through a series of absurdly amusing encounters, everything changes.
A Coffee in Berlin (Oh Boy) is a crisp black-and-white Berlin character study that earns its strongest marks in cinematography — Luis Krausz's gorgeous monochrome widescreen compositions give the film a timeless, Nouvelle Vague-inflected look that is genuinely striking. The episodic, Linklater-ish plot of a directionless young man drifting through vignettes is engaging but deliberately thin, tracking Niko's aimless day with dry wit rather than dramatic momentum. Tom Schilling delivers an understated, naturalistic lead performance that anchors the film without ever grandstanding, and the supporting ensemble is reliably solid without being exceptional. Novelty sits comfortably above average — the film has a distinct, confident voice and a very specific Berlin sensibility, though the slacker-drifter-one-long-day structure is a well-worn indie template. The ending is quietly reflective and tonally consistent, though it withholds catharsis in a way that feels both honest and somewhat underpowered for a climax.