O Beautiful Night
German Film Festival | 15.10.-01.11.2020

O Beautiful Night

Year 2019
Runtime 89 min
Rating M18
Language German
Subtitles English
Director Xaver Böhm
Producer Janine Jackowski, Jonas Dornbach, Maren Ade
Screenwriter Ariana Berndl, Xaver Böhm
Cinematographer Jieun Yi 
Cast Noah Saavedra, Marko Mandic, Vanessa Loibl 

Although Juri is young, he lives in constant fear of dying. Nightly panic attacks for him are routine, but one night he meets a mysterious bird from his dream. The bird drives him into the clutches of a mysterious man who claims to be Death himself.  

For Juri, a nocturnal odyssey begins which takes him through labyrinths of go-kart tracks, opium dens and chandeliers. He meets the fascinating Nina, who works in a peep show and who becomes a passenger of Death on Juri’s hellishly somnambulistic trip in a ‘muscle car’. 

This wild and furious feature film debut by Berlin director and illustrator Xaver Böhm is a humorous, dreamlike visual journey. Bright ‘vanitas’-like images merge into deserted streets and opulently furnished retro-romantic rooms. People acting in a decidedly erratic manner throw the passive hero ever deeper into confusion. Accompanied by a soundtrack that is all night and neon light, Juri has to find out who he is, what he wants and who on earth his companions are. But somehow, one thing seems to be clear throughout the trip: someone will have to die in the end. 
 

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