The successful writer and professor of architecture Nick Kaminsky (Kevin Anderson) returns from New York to Elderstown to visit his biological mother Lillian Anderson Munnsen (Kim Novak) that is terminal. Nick does not know Lilian since he was adopted when he was a child but he pays the bill for her to stay in a private room in the hospital. While walking on the street, Nick stumbles upon his former college friend Paul Kessler (Bill Pullman), who is demolishing with his team an old department store building where a murder and a suicide happened many years ago. While talking to Paul, there is an accident and Nick saves his life. Paul invites Nick to go to the birthday party of his wife Jane Kessler (Pamela Gidley). Nick feels attracted by the building that is built in cast iron and asks Paul to visit it. Meanwhile Jane, who is a photographer, decides to take photos of the same building. They get close to each other and Nick learns that Jane was also adopted. Along the following days, Jane and Nick have a love affair and Nick discloses hidden secrets from their past. "Liebestraum" (meaning love dream in German and title of a Franx Liszt 's composition) is a melancholic and beautiful film by Mike Figgis. The depressive story of a love affair in the 50's or 60's ended in a murder and suicide and the consequences in the present days (1991) is supported by great performances, wonderful cinematography and magnificent music score. The direction of Mike Figgis follows the style of film-noir and this film has been only released on VHS in Brazil. My vote is seven.Title (Brazil): "Liebestraum - Atração Proibida" ("Liebestraum – Forbidden Attraction")

I live in the small city where this was filmed, Binghamton, NY. I know 3 people who were in it. When it came out I was excited to see it, to see Lori, Alberto and Bernie in it.The joke among us was that it was a film about men who don't wash their hands. I thought it was vile, but when the director's cut came out, I bought it, just for the local interest.Big difference! Aside from the disquieting moments to those who are familiar with location shots (I have similar problems with THE MOLLY MAGUIRES and WITNESS -- both filmed in areas I am familiar with) it rewards those with patience.But Kim Novak has the grossest line ever assigned to a screen legend!!! LOL

This movie was strange yet intriguing. I could not quite figure out who the woman in the wheel chair was. Who was the pregnant woman? Why did the movie continually move back and forth in time? Was the woman in the hospital really his mother? What was the significance of the building and its demolition? I was totally confused by its plot. Just when I thought I had the plot figured out , another twist would take hold. I was not sure why the woman in the wheelchair's eyes appeared as they did and the purpose of the main character's lover assisting her. Was there some relevance to this particular scene. Most confusing was the two shootings. First flashback the perpetrator was a man, the second was a pregnant woman. Who really shot the mother? Confused!

"Lebestraum", a second rate noirish drama, tells of murder, infidelity, and other stuff. It includes a hair-raising ride in a police car and some prostitute diddling stuff and a big "N" falling off the top of a building almost on our hero's head and some nightmares with the old wake up screaming thing going on and, oh, yeah, and the old cat jumping out during a suspenseful moment. Betwixt and between such trite nonsense is the real story, the real nonsense, which takes itself so seriously as to be almost laughable. Don't waste your time with this loser.Note: The audio quality of the Tivo'd version I watched was awful and there were no subtitles to help fill in the blanks. I had to watch under headphones.