SYSTEM CRASHER/ SYSTEMSPRENGER
Germany, 2019, 118 minutes, Colour.
Helena Zengel, Albrecht Schuch, Gabriella Maria Schmeide, Lisa Hasmeister.
Directed by Nora Fingscheidt.
This is a strong drama, and drama about a young girl who cannot be controlled – she seemed to continually fall through the structures of the system for childcare.
The film is worth seeing because of the performance by Helena Zengel as Benny, a girl at nine turning ten, hyperactive, narcissistic, prone to rage and tantrums. The actress is completely convincing.
The film shows how various organisations within Germany try to cope with such difficult children. The little girl is unable to live with her mother who cannot cope, is in a variety of relationships, has two younger children whom she cares for and does not want them to go the way of her older daughter, though the young son seems to be moving in that direction. While she collaborates with authorities, she is unable to keep the promises she makes about her daughter (who is absolutely devoted to her) and literally runs away, although she does come to her daughter’s hospital bedside after she suffers exposure to the weather.
There is a sympathetic official who tries to place her in foster homes, only temporally successful, who listens to her and offers her support. The other members of the staff move from the sympathetic to the hard-headed, the doctor concerned about her mental health, and ideas that she should go on a program for such children which is held in Kenya.
The most significant person in her life is the official who is designated to accompany her to school. He bonds with her, is able to deal with her tantrums, gets permission to take her away for a holiday to his hut in the countryside, a hut without any amenities. Commentators note that this would not be lawful in Germany for a man to take a child away on such an excursion.
For a while, this is successful, but again tantrums ensue. The man takes her to his home for a night where she meets his pregnant wife. This is significant because after other outbursts, she runs away to the house, seeing the man as a father-figure, but taking the newborn baby, holding it and becoming possessive – which leads to disaster.
There is no solution to the problems leaving it to the audience to assess their reactions to the girl, her character, situations, and the ways that the authorities have tried to deal with her.
1. The title? Reference to difficult children? Problems, ability to cope, help, possibilities for improvement/not?
2. The German locations, the town, apartments, the institutions, hospital, homes, the hut in the woods, the farm, the airport? The musical score?
3. The young actress’s performance, real, powerful, consistent? The dramatic impact?
4. William’s response to Benny, not likeable, angers, the management, in a rage, explosive? Are being self-centred, her whims, instant enmities, avoiding responsibility, and response to the way she was treated, turning against people? A desperate love for her mother, despite the unhappy memories of the diapers? The absent father? Her mother’s partners? The younger brother and sister? Her not being able to live at home? Her mother not being able to cope? The various interactions with the staff, pro and con? The test in the hospital, trying to diagnose her? Her behaviour in classes, and dominating, wanting to watch television? The prospects?
5. Her mother, not being able to cope, the children and fears that they would turn out like Benny, her partners, the situation at home, Benny visiting and the issue with the television, and bashing her mother? The mother not turning up at the meetings, not able to have Benny at home despite the promises, running away? At the end, in hospital with her daughter, her genuine love for her but unable to handle her?
6. Mrs Bafane, her age, appearance, her skills, profession, nice, helping Benny, trying to find places for her, the constant rejections, the foster mother and her taking Benny in, Mrs Bafane and her desperation? The final foster mother and yet Benny attacking the little boy on the skating rink? Mrs Bafane sitting and weeping, Benny consoling her?
7. The staff, those in favour, those against? Professional work, Benny’s insults, wearing them down? The medical tests?
8. The character of Micha, in himself, his being present with the staff, his role to accompany Benny to school? The bond, yet to be detached? His later having “rescue fantasies�? His observance, his treatment of Benny, experiencing her tantrums? The game and the wages? Going to the farm, her promising to return?
9. His idea, going to the farm, no electricity, television, the outhouse? Her initial reaction, having to get the milk, the incident with the dog, her violent reaction, tantrum, Micha rescuing her? The holiday, going into the woods, the owls? The good experiences? Always yes to response in the now and in being negative?
10. Birthday celebration, the gifts, everybody present, the song, and the cake?
11. The night, Micha, his age, experience, his wife and her pregnancy? Benny staying the night? Returning to the school? Her escaping, lying at the door, and wanting to stay, calling Micha dad, the morning, taking the baby, possessing it, her running out into the woods? The night in the woods, tired, sleeping cold, her imagination, the owl, the dog, going into the kennel? The collapse, in hospital, recovering, her mother’s presence?
12. In desperation, the suggestion of going to Kenya? The getting ready, the farewell, going to the airport, the tent and trying to take the Dragon, her tantrum and running away?
13. What hope for her? The open end of the film? Could she recover, not be so self-centred, not bursting into rages?
