Alternate Best Actor 2004: Daniel Brühl in The Edukators

Daniel Brühl did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Jan in The Edukators. 

The Edukators follows three wannabe radicals who disrupt the homes, as literally just mess around with their possessions, of rich people as their acts of rebellion. 

The duo is initially Peter (Stipe Erceg) and Jan, who are eventually joined by Jule (Julia Jentsch) Peter’s girlfriend. Peter and Jan’s MO is to go into rich people’s houses, mess with their stuff and then leave cryptic messages about how their wealth will come to an end. Daniel Brühl plays the part of Jan in a fairly expected way of essentially the attempt of the “cool” radical who wants to shake things up with his friend. Something that Brühl can deliver better than some, as this role would very easily be instantly intolerable, by offering some genuine charisma and at least some nuance within Jan. Although Jan is passionate about his views with Peter, Brühl tempers his performance enough to make it so he’s someone who is at least approachable within his radical notions. He conveys the very youthful jubilation he shares with Peter as they go about what they see as their rebellion against the system, and as much as I don’t think Jan particularly sold me too much, I will say Brühl at the very least keeps him from repelling you through his natural charm and ability to not overplay the passion. 

The situation complicates itself as Jan ends up sharing their particular methods with Jule, after she comes afoul of a rich man she owes money to, and she seeks guidance from the “edukators”. An element where Jan takes center stage with Jule, and even though she’s the girlfriend of his best friend, he starts becoming increasingly closer to her. Brühl and Jentsch have a strong chemistry with one another, as they create a natural ease in their interactions, and you see the ease of the gradual connection the two share. A connection that develops to an affair, where the two are very convincing in showing the passion getting the better of them, as the thrill of playing the rebels finds itself into a mutual passion for each other. Although again Brühl nicely tempers this even a bit where you see the moments before and the moments afterwards, where guilt seems to sink within his physical manner of his performance. There is shame in the betrayal of his friend, within Brühl’s expressive eyes, even if it doesn’t stop Jan from continuing the affair regardless. 

Eventually the plot reveals itself as they end up kidnapping the rich man, and going far deeper into the notions of being rebels, as they are both challenged by the man and attempt to challenge him with their views. Brühl gets a strong scene where he gets to be the one to articulate their views of society, where he isn’t a great orator, but a believable sharp passion befitting more so say a college student with strong views than a full on rebel. The situation also eventually leads to Peter and Jan having a falling out, but also a reconnection over Jan’s obvious betrayal with Jule. Something where I think maybe a limitation is that Brühl and Erceg are just fine together, but not really all that dynamic. They’re convincing enough as bickering friends, but never did I find their relationship to feel all that impactful. Partially this is the limitations of Erceg’s unmemorable performance, but also the writing limits them to just a few sudden moments of running through a friendship. Brühl does what he can with what he has, but while he’s always good here, it never elevates to a truly memorable portrayal of any aspect of this story. Brühl is good though, charismatic, elevates what he can, but never made me feel his character, much like the film, was “fine I guess”.