MovieChat Forums > Freier Fall (2013) Discussion > The homophobe

The homophobe

posted 10 years ago by ronfirv
14 replies | jump to latest

Rarely in film do I find a hate figure, but one stood out of so many films I have watched over the years, and for most of us, it was the homophobic policeman. What a truly horrible human being he was, but very well acted.
Interesting touch by the writers that his name was Limpinski, not a German name, but obviously he was supposed to be read by us as a naturalised German, or his parents had been naturalised.
It is rather appropriate too, given the higher levels of racism and homophobia in eastern and central Europe than in western. Deft touch indeed by the writers.
Obviously and very sadly and disappointingly, racism and vile homophobia exists in all of our societies, and pleased and relieved steps are being taken, mainly in the west, to eradicate it. The East is another ongoing problem area and old attitudes refuse to die, even amongst many of the young. Homophobia almost wiped out? Not by a long chalk.
For those in the US, you too have problem States (Deep South?) but our unenlightened in the new Europe match the worst you find your side of the Pond.
I guess in time, with education from the West and as they migrate,and are educated in our schools they will become enlightened. We can but hope.
Well done, Mr Lacant, an extremely intelligent and subtle touch, but I didn't miss it.

[–] PrivateBozz 10 years ago

He's a pretty one dimensional character imo, maybe he's meant to represent a certain aspect of homophobia. At least to me he doesn't completely fit into the low-key realistic style of the movie and the characters. But maybe it's just me, because I haven't met any people like him so far, maybe he's actually a realistic spot-on portrayal of a homophobic male? But there's of course a much more subtle form of homophobia, sometimes in people who don't even consider themselves as homophobic.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If I upset you, don't stress
Never forget, that God isn't finished with me yet

[–] ronfirv 10 years ago

Thankfully I haven't met anyone like Limpinski either. I have come across open homophobia, more so in the 80's and several years earlier. I do believe men like him certainly existed, and am sure as can be there will be more than a few like him in eastern and central Europe today,on our doorstep worse luck, and in many States of the USA, and indeed institutionalised homophobia in many countries across the globe.
Let me say again, it was good of the writer to insert such a thoroughly, openly nasty man as Limpinski in the film, which helped to ram home the ugliness of this phobia still sadly alive in this century.
Subtle forms of the phobia? Oh yes, so right,privatebozz.

[–] PrivateBozz 10 years ago

I do believe men like him certainly existed, and am sure as can be there will be more than a few like him in eastern and central Europe today,on our doorstep worse luck, and in many States of the USA, and indeed institutionalised homophobia in many countries across the globe.

I imagine men like Gregor usually show this extreme behavior when together with like-minded people (or when drunk). His character felt a little over the top because the other police men/women seemed much more reserved. They didn't exactly speak up against him, but it also didn't look like they were approving of or sharing his opinions. I guess that's what made his behavior a little out of place in my eyes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If I upset you, don't stress
Never forget, that God isn't finished with me yet

[–] ronfirv 10 years ago

Largely agree,privatebozz. I do wonder if the director fully intended him to be OTT to underline how out of place he was in the Police Force?
Never forget the phrase, in vino veritas! Yes, men like the odious Limpinski usually reveal themselves when drunk, or as you said, when in the company of others with the same views. Group mentality, strength in numbers and all that. It underscores their weakness,ultimately.

[–] JanoPerez 10 years ago

or those in the US, you too have problem States (Deep South?)

Yup, hence the civil war in the U.S. South vs North. The south are always more strict on this sort of stuff. Do agree with the rest of what you say, ronfirv.

In the US, and from my experience of living in Spain, I always found Europeans to be more cold-hearted to us. It's sort of true. I don't mean everyone is like that, but it's common.

"Just because you can't understand something, doesn't mean it's wrong!"

[–] jerry4444 9 years ago

It's just like the recent case of the secretary who refused to gibe out same-sex marriage license. That happened in tje south.

So who here has more rights? Rights to get married vs rights to adhere to one's religious beliefs?

[–] ronfirv 9 years ago

That's loaded and controversial.
One can not be denied the right to practise one's chosen religion but also we are bound to observe the law of the land. The law comes first, religion second.

[–] scififangeek 9 years ago

I think that compared to Marc, all the other characters serve as representations of someone or something. Not to say they're not all well thought out and well acted. It's just that the focus is, and should be, on Marc. The rest of the characters are, in varying degrees, line drawings with some colors partly filled in.

I didn't hate Limpinski but I didn't like the character as a person either. I think he's an important character to have, though, and didn't find him as out of place as other viewers. Limpinski represents the extreme side of homophobia. As well as sexism, don't forget. He's as realistic as can be when he's a stand-in for discrimination in general.

If you watch his scenes closely, he's outspoken, talks a lot of *beep* and doesn't think before he speaks. Whatever he's thinking or feeling he says out loud no matter what it is. He's that guy that makes everyone go "Oh there's so-and-so running his mouth again". After a while you just try to ignore it because pointing it out to him does nothing.

What he says doesn't go entirely unchecked. Frank and Britta both call him out at one time or another for something he's said. Especially when he's said something particularly discriminatory. The rest of the unit might not confront him but they don't support him either. Also, like I said, the focus was on Marc so the creators weren't going to waste time around scenes on a very minor character. He had to be that outspoken so we knew what the hell he was discriminating against or else it would've been too vague to read onscreen.

Okay. Let me start by saying that Limpinski fully instigated the fight in the canteen. Kay's reaction to tackle and try to choke him out, I would've done the same. The comment he made to Kay was homophobic, yes. But the offscreen fight when Limpinski beats up Kay might've been far less about gaybashing and more about that Kay humiliated him in front of the unit. It might not've even been so much about that he was beaten by a "schwule" either.

Marc didn't deserve to be punched but he was inviting some sort of retaliation, and had to know he was, when he planted a kiss on Limpinski to screw with him. Frank hadn't wanted to report Limpinski for verbal offenses especially since it was Kay who started that altercation. But that Limpinski then beat on two fellow cops in so many days - also that one of those was Marc - more than likely galvanized Frank into taking further action and reporting him. That's the sense that I got anyway.

It's also quite possible Limpinski used things like homophobia as a veil for violent tendencies. It was a "reason" to physically lash out at someone. Not that I am, in any way, excusing his behavior. Limpinski was an *beep* Plain and simple. But he was an *beep* all around. Homophobic, sexist, etc. I didn't seem him, or any of the characters, as entirely one-dimensional. They're just not given as much weight in the film, rightly so.

There's always a guy like that and they're more common than we think, whether we like it or not. Most might not be as outspoken as the Limpinski character, but they're out there. I was once with this group of strangers and this one dude totally turned on me when I mentioned I was bi. Which was so stupid since I didn't even like the guy or barely say a word to him, let alone find him attractive. It happens, unfortunately.

[–] ronfirv 9 years ago

Limpinski was one ignorant s.o.b. Yes, alas, guys like him are out there but becoming fewer. Also, even straight people now would definitely confront him and call him out. He wouldn't last long in any Police Force in UK nowadays, that's for sure, or any respectable Organisation. The man is a dinosaur. The screen writer I believe over-painted his homophobia but ok, for a minor character, we got the point!

Very apt point on reasons for him beating up Kay (off-screen);Kay had challenged his deeper insecurity in front of his colleagues, and the insecure can't stand that. Personally, without having been beaten up, it's happened to me. L. was not articulate or intelligent enough to respond to Kay, intellectually rungs above him, so resorted to physical violence. He was just a cheap backstreet thug and had no place in the Police Force.

[–] scififangeek 9 years ago

I can't remember if it was in an article or an interview - we've discussed my German skills, or I could've just dreamt the article or interview, who knows - but there had been a mention that discrimination was more of an issue in the... well, rural isn't quite the right word, but the less metropolitan areas of Germany. If the film had taken place in Berlin, for instance, it would've been a different situation and film entirely.

Countries like the UK and Canada both seem to be much further along than most other areas of the globe. That type of person's becoming less likely in more metropolitan areas here too, but that, and all other sorts of discrimination, are alive and well and rampant.

The Limpinski character is not overpainted or an extreme version of someone here in the States at all. He still very much exists in a lot of places and all sorts of organizations, terrible as that is. Things are changing of course, but the US has a hell of a lot more ground to cover on that score. Maybe that's why I see him as being very realistic - because the USA is so messed up.

I don't know that I'd say Limpinski didn't belong in the police force, but he needed to be severely sanctioned and closely monitored. You can't tell people what to think or feel, but you can make them control their own actions. Someone needed to tell him to keep a lid on that *beep* or else risk his career entirely.

At the start of the film, we'd seen Marc trying to catch up to Kay, for whom everything was apparently effortless. Kay was, in a lot of ways, the "cool kid", the "golden boy". Limpinski was clearly insecure and made more so around Kay. It's what drove his boorish behavior.

"Gay" just gave Limpinski an actual excuse to hate on Kay for how insecure and inadequate he made him feel. How do we know that he didn't pick on Kay for being gay because Kay already made him feel insecure long before Limpinski knew he was gay?

He kept making comments about Kay and Britta together. Limpinski expressed physical attraction for Britta, but it escalated when Kay joined the unit. He could've been jealous that Britta's attentions were obviously going to go to the hot new guy. Kay's presence threatened Limpinski from day one. None of that had anything to do with Kay being gay.

Let's also not forget the latent homosexuality issue. Men like Limpinksi would fight against it with sarcasm and anger. I'm not saying that was the case with Limpinski. Sometimes we just plain dislike someone, end of story. But part of the discomfort Limpinski felt toward Kay could've been of that vein. A strange attraction. If Marc felt it, why couldn't someone else? Attraction is attraction after all. We can't control it. Maybe Marc was right, and Limpinski was jealous of Kay and Marc. Besides, Kay was very pretty. Haha!

Honestly, I do think that purpose of Limpinski was just to serve as a representation of general discrimination. But from a deeper character standpoint, I can't necessarily accept that homophobia was what drove all of his animosity toward Kay, and then Marc which I think was just transference from/association with Kay.

[–] ronfirv 9 years ago

Homophobia I am sure is more evident in the less metropolitan areas of UK too.

Rest assured,Limpinski would be not be tolerated in any Police Force in UK now - our Forces have a zero tolerance attitude to homophobia now and that was long overdue. It will exist but it is stamped on, hard. Similarly in our Armed Forces.

Good point on L. hating Kay for being so self-confident before he probably discovered he was gay. I would tend to agree there. I tend to be rather self-assured, just the way I am and my life's experiences and the marks these have made on my character but as one close friend said to me way over 10 years ago, self-assuredness is extremely threatening to an insecure person and as a result, the self-confident are hated for it. She was right, of course. The only way some then see of "getting back" at the person is by bullying, again the last refuge of the pitifully insecure.

Btw, may I ask if you are in US or Canada? (Although I'm a Scot, I live in southern England now, after years of travelling).

[–] scififangeek 9 years ago

I am unfortunately in the US of A. But close enough to the Canadian border to dream of jumping citizenship.

We barely legalized same-sex marriage at the federal, rather than state only, level. There are officials getting sanctioned in various states right now for refusing to give us our certificates, marry us, provide services to our weddings... I'd like to say "sexual orientation" can no longer be discriminated against, legally that is. People know how to get around legalities sometimes. So I'm not quite sure we're at "zero tolerance" anywhere yet. I also believe that the "sex" part of the anti-discriminatory laws doesn't include "gender", therefore trans individuals still aren't safe in that regard.

[–] ronfirv 9 years ago

My ex is living in up-State NY with his new partner, a couple of hours or so from Syracuse. Funnily enough he mentioned only last week to me that they might consider crossing the border if things don't go well in the future, politically your side of the pond. (We e-mail each other every couple of months or so and still exchange warm Christmas cards, one of the very few relationships I have kept on a strictly friendly basis only, or remained in contact).

[–] scififangeek 9 years ago

It's cool you maintain friendships. That works for me until the ex gets an SO/spouse. Then apparently I'm a threat. Ridiculous considering I've always done the breaking up with. If I wanted the ex they would've been mine, one way or another. So you might be onto something. That self confidence is threatening to the insecure. Personally I find it attractive. Probably because I'm not insecure. Haha.