WILD MOUSE
Austria, 2017, 103 minutes, Colour.
Joseph Hader, Georg Friedrich, Jorg Hartmann, Pia Hierzegger, Denis Moschitto, Crina Semciuc.
Directed by Joseph Hader.
An Austrian comedy.
Wild Mouse is the work of Joseph Hader, actor, writer of the script and director of the film. The Wild Mouse of the title is a restaurant – although the character, Georg, is something of a mouse at the age of 50 but, having been fired from his paper and 25 years of music reviews, he discovers that there is more to life and his being a mouse becomes rather wild – even excessively so.
This is a film that people of middle age will relate to. Those, who around 50, find it difficult to get employment after losing their jobs, will also identify.
Hader creates quite a character, a rather self-satisfied man, and snobbish. He is married to Joanna, a therapist, something which creates a variety of complications especially with a recalcitrant client and his relationships.
At first, Georg does not want to admit the truth, goes out to work every day, sits in the park, is amazed that his successor still uses some of his reviews (with his wife astounded they are so friendly). One day, at a fair, he sits on the train designed for children and families which leads to his meeting the driver, a friend from school days (whom he remembers bullying him). The driver also loses his job but is supported by his Romanian girlfriend with whom he will cannot converse, Georg using Italian to get to know her.
With Georg coming to life, one of the main things that Hebrew on is a possible revenge on his boss who sacked him. And that is where the film leads, with some surprises, Georg failing in his intent, falling asleep in the snow and having to phone his wife to come to help him.
The film ends with the audience wondering whether Georg can ever explain everything to his wife.
Quite entertaining, often amusing – despite the fact that Georg is so often disagreeably petulant.
1. The impact of the film? An Austrian perspective? Drama and comedy?
2. Settings in Vienna, the newspaper, the concerts, home, therapy, office, the fair and the rides, the countryside and the snow? The musical score?
3. The title, the ride, Georg as a mouse, but becoming wild?
4. The background of topical issues: age, retrenchment, pregnancy, artificial insemination? Reviews and critique? The television background of Europe and the refugees and Syria? Violence and revenge?
5. Georg, the opening, walking with the journalist, chatting, his reputation, 25 years, striking a pose, but hard on performers? The audience with Waller, his being fired? For younger people? The antagonism towards Waller? Planning revenge? Scratching the car, tearing the car cover, the graffiti, the fish in the pool, buying the guns and knives, the negotiations about paying for a hit, smashing the CCTV? Driving to the country, preparing to shoot, unable to shoot?
6. Georg, lies about his being fired, in the office, the secretary, the paper continuing to use his name and photo, his wife commenting on the pleasant review? Going to the concerts? The Japanese in the restaurant and his having been attacked, his attacking Georg’s car? Joanna wanting to be pregnant, the attempts, his not being ready to be a father? In the park, riding on the train, meeting Erich, payment for the train to depart, Erich, the accusations of theft, his being fired? Playing pool, Georg remembering Erich as a bully? Nicoletta, speaking Italian with her? Erich and the graffiti? The ride and the excitement, the money deal, Georg lending Erich the money? The music, the opening, dressing up classically, Joanna finding him, his pleading, her leaving? The police arresting him after the CCTV attack, the policeman’s admiration? Joanna ousting him from the house? Borrowing Erich’s car, the drive, his fears, the gun, the fight, Sebastian’s intervention, the struggle with Waller, snowed in, Erich’s story about pills and whiskey and the snow, his doing the same, the snowplough men, the pursuit? Call to Joanna, wanting clothes?
7. Joanna, her age, her therapy, the interview with Sebastian, his insult? Her being hurt? Is return, the flowers, the invitation to the band, her professional refusal, yet going, enjoying the music, talking with Sebastian, the attraction? Waller and coming for therapy, the job offer, the dinner? Her going to the Wild Mouse, angry with Georg?
8. Erich, his background, working the railways, being fired, bullying Georg at school, pool, the discussions, friendship? Georg saying he had no friends? Erich and Nicoletta, the language barrier? The rides? Nicoletta deciding to leave, Erich unable to speak with her?
9. The ride, building it, the success?
10. Sebastian, therapy, homosexuality, his friend, bringing the flowers, the invitation to the music to Joanna, talking, the irony of Waller being his boyfriend?
11. Waller, treatment of Georg, the damages, his threats, the police? Going to Joanna, the job offer? In the country, Sebastian, the discussions about food, sensitivities, the fight, Sebastian and his stands?
12. Georg beginning to explain everything to Joanna, in the car, the rain, holding up the traffic – in the film just stopping and leaving it for audiences to work out what will or might happen?
