RISING HIGH
Germany, 2020, 93 minutes, Colour.
David Kross, Emily Goss, Frederick Lau, Janina Uhse, Enrico lo Verso.
Directed by Cuneyt Kara.
With the plot of Rising High, many critics and audiences immediately thought of Leonardo Di Caprio and The Wolf of Wall Street. There are parallels in the story but this version is shorter, slighter, and Leonardo Di Caprio certainly makes much more impact despite the efforts of David Cross.
The film shows initially the decadent lifestyle, the success of fraud in business and the consequences – however, David Kross as Viktor has overreached himself and there is a raid, he is charged with many offences, in prison, decides to give his life story to a journalist.
The film then shows his progress from a certain rags background, wanting to measure up beyond his father’s expectations, his moving into business, encountering a friend, Gerry (Frederick Lau) who introduces him to real estate fraud, buying of units, building them as luxury units, selling them to unsuspecting clients, and engaging the help of a bank worker, Nicole (Emily Goss) who helps them with mortgages.
Viktor and Gerry live the high life, Viktor communicating with the bank in Malta. However, this is a story of a young man overreaching himself and finishing in prison.
1. A serious/comic portrayal of business, fraud, comeuppance?
2. German production, parallels with Wolf of Wall Street? The road to prosperity? Downfall? How heroic the central characters? Moral perspectives?
3. The German setting, the city, business, real estate, apartments, banks, Malta? Homes and family? The world of business, exploitation, lifestyle?
4. The introduction to Viktor and Gerry, the launch, the party, the decadence?
5. The raid, the police, the guests, the beginning of the flashbacks?
6. Viktor in prison, giving the interview to the journalist? His memories, how honest?
7. At home, his father, not a success, the influence on his son, his son’s decisions about himself and his own career?
8. Viktor, his beginnings in business, the encounter with Gerry, suggestions about real estate, the buying of properties, the luxury units, their methods, buying, selling within 10 days, the range of clients?
9. Nicole, at the bank, her style, skills, mortgages? Her place in the plan? The transition to her marrying Gerry? His settling down, her settling down, family? Viktor’s response?
10. The bank in Malta, Viktor and his money?
11. Viktor overreaching himself, a story of downfall?
