Fokus, Films from Germany
Fokus, Films from Germany, curated by Camilla Baier, presents “Finsterworld”, Frauke Finsterwalder debut feature, is a darkly comedic drama that intertwines the lives of eccentric characters in Germany, uncovering their hidden connections and unravelling secrets with sharp wit and irony.
2013 | Director: Frauke Finsterwalder| Germany | 91 min | German with English subtitles.
Frauke Finsterwalder’s debut feature Finsterworld blends satire, fairytale, and surrealism to explore the complexities of personal and collective identity in contemporary Germany. The film weaves together a series of interconnected episodes, each focusing on different characters grappling with life’s challenges. Among them is Franziska, a documentary filmmaker struggling to find meaning in her work, played by Sandra Hüller in an early role.
Finsterworld not only marks a significant collaboration between Finsterwalder and Hüller but also paves the way for their continued partnership, with Hüller starring in last year’s Sisi and I, which also featured in the FOKUS festival. Since then, Hüller has become a star of films such as Anatomy of a Fall and The Zone of Interest.
With its dark humor and surreal twists, Finsterworld offers a complex, and at times unsettling, portrait of modern German sensibilities. Through its quirky characters and unpredictable intersections, the film paints a provocative and thought-provoking picture of how individuals and society at large grapple with their histories, identities, and relationships.
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