TORE TANZT/ NOTHING BAD CAN HAPPEN

Germany, 2013, 110 minutes, Colour.
Julius Feldermeier, Sascha Alexander Gersak, Annika Kuhl, Gro Swantje Kohlhof, Daniel Michel, Til Niklas Theinert, Christian Bergman, Nadine Boske, Ewe Dag Berlin .
Directed by Katrin Gebbe.

German title for this film is the name of the central character. The English title is rather ironic – which means that everything bad can and does happen.

The story is set in Hamburg with many glimpses of life in that city, especially in the poorer areas.

Tore is an earnest young man who takes up with a religious group in the city, Jesus Freaks. They are fundamentalist, a kind of protest group, enthusiastic, with some double standards morally, and are not able to remain together. But in the opening, Tore has been taken to the beach and baptised by immersion, the group applauding him, he very happy.

He is a simple soul, with a very simple faith, belief and trust in Jesus, letting that flow into everyday life and that is what his life is all about. By chance, he and an associate helper a driver and his family when their car breaks down. They impose hands, pray and trust and the car starts.

The family is grateful but, in fact, bad things subsequently happen.

Tore becomes part of the family, living in a shed, sharing meals, sharing his enthusiasm with the family, mother and father, the children are not the children of Benno, the head of the household. There are also some visitors, domestic sequences, games and charades…

The teenage daughter, Sanny, takes a shine to Tore but he is rather strict in his moral attitudes, especially about marriage and sexual encounters.

When the adults turn on him, cruel in their attitudes, Benno accuses Tore of stealing food and he and Astrid force the young man to eat contaminated chicken which makes him sick, hospitalises him. But his attitude is that of the Christian martyr, his being willing to suffer for others and when asked where Jesus is he points to his heart.

Then worse can happen as Benno takes him to a gay brothel, Tore being raped by the family friend, Tore being taken back and forth for the other clients. And still Tore has his simple faith.

It doesn’t end well, anger, violence, hypocrisy and the death of the martyr – but which does liberate Sanny and her little brother who walk out into, perhaps, a more hopeful future.

1. A drama from contemporary Germany? violence? Religious dimensions?

2. The Hamburg setting? Various aspects of the city, the poorer areas, public areas, protests? Homes in the suburbs? Hospitals? An authentic feel? The musical score?

3. The title, the English ironic title? The more direct German title focusing on the central character?

4. The background of contemporary Jesus movements, religious movements? In Hamburg, the Jesus Freaks? Their ideology, religious dimensions, spirituality, the focus on Jesus, a simplistic faith?

5. The introduction to Tore? His being baptised, in the sea, the enthusiasm of the community, his exhilaration? His being a simple soul? His age, lack of experience? Embracing the spirit of the Jesus Freaks? Involved in their activities, in their community? The irony of the group not continuing, the double standards, especially about sexual relationships? Tore adrift?

6. The episode with the car breaking down? Tore and his friend, prayer, imposition of hands on the car, the car starting again? The reaction of the driver? His partner, the children?

7. Tore being invited to the house, his eagerness? His explanation of himself, a simple faith in Jesus, trust? Becoming part of the household? Accommodation, simple, the meals, his contribution? Moving in and out? Becoming further dependent on the group? His continued kindness?

8. The group: Benno, scepticism but initial friendship, his relationship with Astrid? Sanny as the older girl, Daniel, the baby? The neighbours and their coming to share meals? The big man from the group? At home?

9. The tensions with Sony, her birthday celebrations? Her fondness for Torre? Indications of sexual treatment by Benno? Her not being his own daughter? Relationship with Astrid? The growing tensions?

10. Sanny, sexual experience, the approach to Tore, his explanation about sex, marriage?

11. The night with the neighbours, the playing games, charades, Tore and his participation?

12. Benno, turning on Tore, accusing him of stealing, the decaying chicken, Benno and Astrid forcing Tore to eat, Astrid and her vengeance? His becoming sick, collapsing, in hospital?

13. Tore becoming a martyr figure, always continuing his faith, that Jesus was within him, giving him strength and his surviving his torture?

14. Benno and the exploitation of Tore, taking him to the sex centre, the clients, Benno’s friend, the rape? Tore and his endurance, still keeping faith? His being returned by Benno for more clients?

15. Tour, eventually his martyrdom, his keeping his faith, his death? The response of Sanny, taking her brother and then leaving home? The impact of Benno and Astrid?

16. A narrative about contemporary Germany – but an allegory about a simple saint and martyr?