2024-01-09 19:16:03
The prison drama “Four Minutes” made the young Hannah Herzsprung a star in 2007. Now there is a sequel – with mixed success.
Berlin.
“Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do,” Jesus prayed on the cross. Since then, all Christians should forgive those who have caused suffering. An interesting question remains.
“Can people forgive themselves?” is how the deaconess (Adele Neuhauser, “Tatort”) puts it in the rather pathetic film drama “15 Years”. One of her wards, the highly talented pianist Jenny von Loeben (Hannah Herzsprung, “Monte Verità”), can’t really do anything with such thoughts. Although she actually looks for support in religion. But the no longer very young woman is full of anger in her stomach.
Excellent back story
And she seeks revenge against her former lover (Albrecht Schuch, “Nothing New in the West”), whom she blames for the death of their baby. Jenny had taken responsibility for a murder for the now celebrated rock star. For this she was not only put in prison for many years. She also lost her newborn there due to the mistakes of others.
If this story sounds familiar: the director and author Chris Kraus (“The Flowers of Yesterday”) brought it to cinemas in 2007 under the title “Four Minutes”.
And it didn’t just win prizes – such as the German Film Prize in Gold for best feature film. But it also helped the disturbingly complex leading actress Herzsprung to achieve her breakthrough.
Financially, the profound work with Monica Bleibtreu (1944-2009, “The Manns”) as Jenny’s congenial counterpart grossed a total of over nine million US dollars in more than 20 countries. So now the sequel, which opened the 57th Hof International Film Festival in the autumn in the presence of the director and leading actors.
Film is not completely convincing
“15 Years” accompanies the battered and swollen-looking protagonist on her way out of prison with a star-studded cast of sometimes surreal images and lots of flashbacks. Above all, she makes life difficult for herself.
Jenny usually rejects support harshly and in rude words. She beats her roommate (Stefanie Reinsperger, “Tatort”), who, like her, works in a cleaning crew for the purpose of rehabilitation. She also treats the musicologist Harry (Christian Friedel, “Babylon Berlin”), who wants to help her get back on her feet, unkindly.
When she meets a Syrian musician (Hassan Akkouch, “Everyone wants to be loved”) at Harry and his wife’s (Katharina Schüttler, “The White House on the Rhine”), who lost an arm in the war but still looks at the world optimistically , the chance of love suddenly seems to arise. But Jenny first throws a “fuck you in the knee” at him.
To do this, she provokes a re-encounter with her former friend and tormentor in a cynical TV talent show for people with disabilities. An intimate duel of life and death ensues – even though Jenny has learned that the rock musician, who calls himself Gimmiemore, is seriously ill with cancer. And is the father of a small child who he loves more than anything.
This continuation of a story that once caused a sensation is worth a visit, especially because of the once again fascinating leading actress, who makes a real hellfire palpable inside her character. Watching Hannah Herzsprung keeps you engaged for almost two and a half hours.
Otherwise, “15 Years” is likely to appear rather boring to viewers due to its boldness, which is unfortunately dictated by the script despite its ambition. Or fake – like when the desperate Jenny freed a lion at an airport. However, Kraus’ film drama could definitely provide an impetus for thinking about such essential human themes as revenge and forgiveness. (dpa)
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