‘Jo-Jo,’ ‘Ground Zero’: Two First Films at Filmforum

Filmforum is presenting tonight at the Hollywood Moguls, 1650 Schrader Blvd. (formerly Hudson Ave.), two powerful and distinctive first films: Britta Sjogren’s “Jo-Jo at the Gate of Lions” (at 7:30) and Craig Schlattman’s “At Ground Zero” (at 9:30). The first is an eloquent, understated portrait of an attractive, engaging young woman (Lorie Morino) whose apparent hearing of voices increasingly governs every aspect of her life, complicating her relationship with the likable, understandably puzzled young man (Chris Shearer) who is falling in love with her.

What makes the film unusual is the force of its crisp, succinct images, heightened by exceptional performances in well-written roles. Sjogren had a tremendous assist from the makers of the delightful “A Little Stiff,” Greg Watkins (who was “Jo-Jo’s” superb cinematographer) and Caveh Zahedi (who handled the sound). Morino and the lanky Shearer are most impressive, as is David Schultz, who plays a slick guy, also in pursuit of Morino.

Less demanding but just as impressive, “At Ground Zero” is a raw, edgy tale, shot through with dark humor, about a couple of young druggies (well-acted by Tom Elliott and Aysha Hauer) and their reckless adventures on the road from the West Coast to Minneapolis. Schlattman, who also stars as a sniggering, weaselly type who gives the couple a ride, directs with terrific wit and immediacy. There’s also a winning portrayal by Brian Brophy as a singularly ineffectual would-be suicide who joins the duo for a spell. Separate admissions; (213) 466-4143.

German Road Picture: The Goethe Institute, 5700 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 110, continues its German Comedy: East Meets West series Tuesday at 7 p.m. with Detlev Buck’s slight but sweet-natured “No More Mr. Nice Guy” (1993). Joachim Krol stars as Rudi Kipp, a diminutive, wistful innocent, granted a temporary release from a mental institution in western Germany, to join his burly brother Moritz (Horst Krause) on a trip to former East Germany to claim their late grandmother’s estate.

This Mutt-and-Jeff duo, soon joined by a good-looking Soviet army deserter (Konstantin Kotljarov), become caught up in a series of dryly amusing mishaps. Along for the ride, much later on, is striking, witty Sophie Rols as a shrewd, redheaded waitress. The film can be taken as wry comment on life in reunified Germany.

Vadim Glowna’s intimate, insightful “Rising to the Bait” (1992), which screens at the Institute Thursday at 7 p.m., is a highly complex, serious comedy centering on an implacable agent of MAD, West Germany’s CIA, attempting to grab the property of a matronly woman (Elsa Grube-Deister), an idyllic site along the Baltic but also adjacent to a military base still under Soviet control. Grube-Deister, in a warm, commanding portrayal, comes across as the ultimate clever peasant quick to get the hang of free enterprise.

Working from Knut Boeser’s script, Glowna touches upon many thorny issues of reunification: the plight of those with a Stasi past, that of a young woman left in the East by her parents in their escape to the West, and above all a paranoid mind-set left over from a divided Germany. Glowna, who is also a well-known international film actor, even manages to work in a delightful love story. Preceded by “Two to One” (1991), Rita Kalbe’s clever three-minute celebration of reunification.

Information: (213) 525-3388.