4 March 2023
We were particularly taken by the refreshingly different look at life’s big moments: a cancer diagnosis, a coming-out within a marriage, and a child that goes out into the world – here all these typical movie set pieces are told in an original and entertaining way, yet always truthfully. Tragic situations are not captured with shock or horror, but with levity. Moments that are embarrassing or filled with shame are never ridiculed, but treated with humanity and disarming humour. And although the storylines become ever more bizarre, they remain grounded in real life and believable in a sympathetic way.
In what is seemingly a simple story, the director manages to subtly lampoon the toxic speechlessness in family and society as well as the pressure to hide illnesses, proclivities and fears in order to maintain the appearance of an idyllic family. Everything could be so simple if people just spoke plainly, in ways both pragmatic and humorous. With a fine balance of precision and truthfulness, we were moved by the entire cast, right down to the smallest cameo role.
This year the ZF Short Film Prize worth EUR 15,000 goes to Nackte Männer im Wald [Naked Men in the Woods] by Paul Ploberger.
Jury members of the 2023 Filmtage Friedrichshafen Film Festival: Anke Sterneborg, Daniel Hadenius-Ebner, Marcus H. Rosenmüller, Regina Michel und Tomasz Robak
