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SYSTEM CRASHER

( 2019 )
Official Selection - Out of Competition |
 
Germany
 |
 German |
 118 min

About the film

Bouncing between foster homes that can’t handle her outbursts of violent rage, Benni is a nine-year-old girl who represents what child protection services call a "system crasher." While the only constant in Benni’s life has become change, the one thing she can’t seem to change is her ways. In an attempt to help, Mrs. Bafané of child protection services hires Micha, an anger management trainer, to become Benni’s school escort, bringing new hope to her life. The film won the Silver Bear Alfred Bauer Prize at the 69th Berlinale.

Director

Nora Fingscheidt

Nora Fingscheidt was born in 1983 in Braunschweig, and spent her childhood in Germany and Argentina. In 2003, she started supporting the development of the self-organized film school filmArche in Berlin. Meanwhile, she trained as an acting coach under the supervision of Sigrid Andersson. Fingscheidt studied fiction directing at the Film Academy Baden-Württemberg from 2008 to 2017. Her graduation film, the feature documentary Without This World (2017), won the Max Ophüls and First Steps awards in 2017. It was screened at the Perspectives on German Cinema section of the 68th Berlinale. Her feature narrative debut System Crasher has won several prizes, including the Berliner Morgenpost Readers’ Jury Award and the Silver Bear at the 69th Berlinale.

Producer

Peter Hartwig, Jonas Weydemann, Jakob D. Weydemann

Production Company

Kineo Filmproduktion, Weydemann Bros.

Screenplay

Nora Fingscheidt

Cinematography

Yunus Roy Imer

Editing

Stephan Bechinger, Julia Kovalenko

Sound

Corinna Zink, Jonathan Schorr

Cast

Helena Zengel, Albrecht Schuch, Gabriela Maria Schmeide

Contacts

Producer

Peter Hartwig, Jonas Weydemann, Jakob D. Weydemann

Production Company

Kineo Filmproduktion, Weydemann Bros.

Screenplay

Nora Fingscheidt

Cinematography

Yunus Roy Imer

Editing

Stephan Bechinger, Julia Kovalenko

Sound

Corinna Zink, Jonathan Schorr

Cast

Helena Zengel, Albrecht Schuch, Gabriela Maria Schmeide

Contacts

More About Film

She is small, but dangerous. Wherever Benni ends up, she is immediately expelled. The wild 9-year-old girl has already become what child protection services call a 2190 characters left“system crasher”. And she is certainly not looking to change her ways. Because Benni has one single goal: to be back at home with her mommy! But Bianca is scared of her own daughter. Mrs. Bafané from child protection services is trying her best to find a permanent placement for Benni. She hires the anger management trainer Micha as Benni’s school escort and suddenly there is a seed of hope. Will Micha be able to succeed where all others despaired? While being acutely authentic, first-time director Nora Fingscheidt transcends a psychological study and crafts vibrant, visceral and emotional cinema, which evokes unforgettable performances.

Producer

Peter Hartwig, Jonas Weydemann, Jakob D. Weydemann

Production Company

Kineo Filmproduktion, Weydemann Bros.

Screenplay

Nora Fingscheidt

Cinematography

Yunus Roy Imer

Editing

Stephan Bechinger, Julia Kovalenko

Sound

Corinna Zink, Jonathan Schorr

Cast

Helena Zengel, Albrecht Schuch, Gabriela Maria Schmeide

More About Film

She is small, but dangerous. Wherever Benni ends up, she is immediately expelled. The wild 9-year-old girl has already become what child protection services call a 2190 characters left“system crasher”. And she is certainly not looking to change her ways. Because Benni has one single goal: to be back at home with her mommy! But Bianca is scared of her own daughter. Mrs. Bafané from child protection services is trying her best to find a permanent placement for Benni. She hires the anger management trainer Micha as Benni’s school escort and suddenly there is a seed of hope. Will Micha be able to succeed where all others despaired? While being acutely authentic, first-time director Nora Fingscheidt transcends a psychological study and crafts vibrant, visceral and emotional cinema, which evokes unforgettable performances.