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German contemporary cinema HIGHLIGHTS
Outstanding German films of the recent past
Watchlist
German contemporary cinema HIGHLIGHTS
Outstanding German films of the recent past
Watchlist
System Crasher
Drama, Germany 2019, 121 min
She is wild, she is aggressive and unpredictable. Benni's name is actually Bernadette. But don't let anyone call her that! Foster families, residential groups, special school: Benni has already been through Benni has been through it all, and everywhere she goes she gets kicked out again. The outwardly delicate nine year old is now is already what the Youth Welfare Office calls a "system breaker". But Benni doesn't care, because she has only one goal: to live with her mother again! But Bianca is completely overwhelmed with her daughter. The warm-hearted Mrs. Bafané from the youth welfare office threatens to despair. Nobody wants to take Benni in anymore. She is permanently suspended from school. Not even everyday life with her is manageable: Because of traumatic experiences in early childhood, no one is allowed to touch her face. Mrs. Bafané dares a last experiment and hires Micha, an anti-violence trainer for delinquent youths. After initial resistance, Benni gets involved with Micha, and instead of being sent back to the child psychiatric ward, he allows her to spend time together in nature. Three weeks of experiential education without electricity or running water. The time in the forest puts not only Benni, but also Micha to a hard test. The otherwise self-confident man reaches his limits. But he finally succeeds in creating an experience for Benni that she can be proud of, and in finding a real way to connect with her. Back in 'civilization' Benni clings to Micha and wants to stay with him. But Micha has a family of his own and realizes that he is losing his professional distance. When Benni's mother suddenly reappears, things take their own course.
In the Aisles
Everyday life, Germany 2018, 121 min
Christian is new to the wholesale market. He silently immerses himself in the unknown universe: the long aisles, the eternal order of the warehouses, the surreal mechanics of the forklift trucks. Bruno, his colleague from the drinks department, takes care of him, shows him tricks of the trade and becomes a fatherly friend. And then there's Marion from the confectionery department, who plays her little jokes on Christian. When he falls in love with her, the whole wholesale market joins in the excitement. But Marion is married - but not very happily, as they say.
The Ordinaries
Fantasy, Germany 2023, 121 min
In a fabulous world, strictly divided into main characters, supporting characters and outtakes, Paula faces the most important test of her life: she has to prove that she has what it takes to be the main character. Paula wants a glamorous life with her own storyline, exciting scenes and full of music - not like her mother, who works as a supporting character in the background. She is top of her class in cliffhangers, masters slow motion and panicked screaming in her sleep - but she just can't manage to create emotional music. In her search for a solution, she comes across inconsistencies about the death of her father, a heroic protagonist. Her investigations lead her to the despised, oppressed 'outtakes', people with movie flaws, shunted off to the margins of society. But instead of dangerous rebels, Paula meets broken characters with real emotions who are trying to survive in an unjust world. Paula begins to doubt herself, her place in history and those who tell it. And suddenly the level of meta-reflection turns into a socially satirical sci-fi parable about injustice, exclusion and resistance... “What a colorful, beautiful world! The first scenes of “The Ordinaries” show film scenes with the flair of the 1950s and early 1960s, with radiant people, bright colors and cheerful music. In short films such as “Pix” or “Kugelmenschen”, but especially in “Out of Frame” from 2016, [Sophie Linnenbaum] had already played with surreal and science fiction elements as well as cinematic meta-reflections. Her graduation film at the Babelsberg Film University, “The Ordinaries”, which has already won numerous awards, impresses from the very beginning with the consistency with which it tells its story between all the usual pigeonholes, with elements of coming-of-age drama, science fiction and social satire, and how it plays through its sophisticated basic idea both on the plot level and visually: a society that is consistently shaped by cinematic categories and at the same time strictly hierarchically organized.” (Patrick Seyboth, on: epd-film.de)
4 Kings
Drama, Germany 2015, 99 min
In this gripping tale, meet Alex, Fedja, Timo, and Lara—four troubled teenagers whose Christmas eve is far from a serene celebration. Plagued by turbulent family histories and escalating conflicts, they find themselves spending the holidays not at home but in a psychiatric ward. Forced to confront not only each other but also their own inner struggles during intensive therapy sessions, these vastly different adolescents embark on a challenging journey of self-discovery. With the unconventional guidance of Dr. Wolf, a maverick psychiatrist, the therapy sessions take an unforeseen turn, leading the four on a memorable Christmas adventure that will leave an indelible mark on their lives.
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