Mein. - DVD

Film: Maggie (Leni Wesselman) and Klaus (Detlef Bothe) are an odd couple. It's not entirely clear whether the two, traveling in a camper van in Germany, are father and daughter, or lovers after all. They are familiar with each other, have apparently known each other for a very long time. But the 21-year-old girl and the 45-year-old man seem to have a secret. They avoid all too intrusive questions, such as those of a nosy campground attendant (Dominic Raacke), and simply move on. Despite all the secrets, there seems to be a strong attraction and harmony between the two. But appearances are deceptive. Because Maggie shows self-destructive tendencies again and again and when another man begins to be interested in her, the already tense situation threatens to escalate completely. And slowly an incredible truth is revealed.

mine. is an extremely depressing film. Lead actor, writer, producer and director Detlef Bothe knows first class how to steadily tighten the tension screw despite his very leisurely narrative style. Right from the first minutes he establishes an atmosphere that seems unfathomably threatening. The intense acting, especially by Leni Wesselman, contributes considerably to the fact that this atmosphere can be maintained until the end and the viewer remains riveted to the story until the bitter end.

Admittedly, the staging, which demands the audience in many respects, also makes this psychological chamber play a bit unwieldy. mein. is just not a typical German thriller or a commercial drama. The film has its very own style, with which certainly not everyone will be able to make friends. Especially since the story doesn't necessarily offer entertainment in the conventional sense, but rather shocks and drags the viewer down. This might put off anyone who is simply looking for relaxed entertainment. But anyone who appreciates sophisticated German arthouse cinema and does not shy away from difficult material should not miss this wonderfully acted nightmare.

Picture + Sound: The subtle coloring and restrained sound capture the oppressive atmosphere of the film very well. Overall, the technical realization is on a good level with the clean picture and its decent overall sharpness.

Extras: Apart from a trailer show from the provider, the DVD unfortunately has no bonus material to offer.

Conclusion: mein. is a heavy piece of German arthouse cinema that has considerable intensity despite its very worn staging. The DVD is technically on a good level, but the bonus material looks a bit lukewarm. A commentary by the director, for example, would certainly have been interesting due to the film's difficult subject matter. Nevertheless: who does not avoid hard food and appreciates German arthouse cinema, which gets here a chamber play of the very special kind offered.

An article by Frankfurt-Tipp