VICTORIA

Germany, or 2015, 1040 minutes, Colour.
Laia Costa, Fredrick Lau.
Directed by Sebastian Schipper.

Victoria is the name of a young Spanish woman spending time in Berlin. While she has work, we see her dancing the night away, and linking up with some men at the club. She agrees to study with them but they have a different agenda, one of them, just out of prison, is in debt to one of the prison bosses and has agreed to commit robbery. He persuades his friends to join him, but one is very drunk and they persuade Victoria to be the chauffeur. She moves willingly into the plan, becoming more and more exhilarated, even when she is fearful. The young man that she is attached to tries to be protective of her but his friend in need prevails.

The main feature of the film, which won an award at the 2015 Berlin Festival, is the Cinematography, the design of the screenplay to take place in real time, meaning that the director of photography has to ensure that the film looks as it if it has been one single take. This does give some rise to artificiality in photography and design, placement of the camera, and this also means that there are some deficiencies in the plot (for example, the group leaving their car with the drunk man in the boot, available to the police, and going out to a club only a few minutes walk away).

There is an intensity about the film, in the difficult relationships, the effect on each of those involved, the impact on Victoria herself, her relationship with the young man, their eventually having to escape, going to a hotel, his being wounded, his urging her to go away with the stolen money – and the final answer to her dilemma.

1. A slice of German life, Berlin and action?

2. The director’s intention, working in real time, the devices for the impression of continued shooting?

3. Berlin at night, the clubs, the streets? At dawn, the warehouse, the rehearsal for the robbery? The robbery (and actually its not being seen)? Berlin in the day, the escape, clubbing, the police pursuit, the apartment and the baby, the parents? The hotel, the room, calling the ambulance?

4. The musical score, the range of songs, especially at the club?

5. The focus on Victoria, Spanish, her English, being six months in Berlin? Her job, absorbed in her dancing, meetings Sonne, his friends and the situation, her enjoying their company, going on for another drink, 4 o’clock in the morning, the mission, Boxer and his concern, her agreeing to drive? The mastermind for the crime, always referring to as her as a bitch? Driving, the engine going flat, panic, the men in the car, ditching the car, going to the club, absorbed in the dancing? Remembering Fuss, in the boot, drunk? Seeing the police with the car, the shootings, running, Sonne and Victoria going to the apartment, changing clothes, taking the baby, getting out beyond the police, bluffing their way, leaving the baby in the shop, hailing the taxi, cheerful with the driver, the hotel, Victoria getting the room, Sonne and his wound, on the bed, her calling the ambulance, his death? The issue about the money, his wishing her to take it? Victoria walking out of the hotel, with the money? A portrait of a young woman?

6. Sonne, the club, the style, the strobe lights, his hitting on Victoria, friendly, his other friends, Boxer and his being in prison, desperate, persuading Sonne about the job, Blinker, Fuss and his being drunk? Sonne and his continually shielding Victoria? The rehearsal? The actual job, getting back in the car, going clubbing, the chase, Sonne being shot, the apartment, the taxi, the hotel, his dying?

7. Boxer and his intensity, in jail, his protector, returning the favour, need for people, Fuss drunk, his anxieties, persuading Victoria? The boss, the plan, the aftermath? His being shot? Blinker and his being shot by the police? His drinking, the mastermind making them to take drugs to heighten their energy?

8. The scene in the apartment, the terrified couple, the baby, pleading, the changing clothes? The baby in the shop?

9. The taxi, the hotel, Victoria and her ingenuity, Sonne and his dying? Her leaving?

10. A slice of criminal life?