NACHT VOR AUGEN (A HERO’S WELCOME)

Germany, 2008, 91 minutes, Colour.
Hanno Koffler.
Directed by Brigitte Maria Bertelle.

Nacht Vor Augen is a topical film for German audiences at the beginning of the 21st century. It concerns Germany’s involvement in world peace and peacekeeping, especially NATO forces in Afghanistan.

The English title refers to the return of a young man from service in Afghanistan. At first, all seems well. His girlfriend receives him very enthusiastically, his mother is delighted, his half-brother idolises him. He makes contacts with his friends. However, there is a tension, an inner rage which begins to manifest itself. In discussions with the authorities, it emerges that there is a cover-up and he was responsible for some violence in Afghanistan. Finally, this is revealed – his telling it to his card-playing friends who either ignore it, make jokes or don’t believe him.

One of the main focuses of the film is the soldier’s relationship with his young half-brother, taunting him on the one hand, helping him to play soccer and be aggressive on the other. It is part of a psychological game that could possibly lead to the little boy shooting his half-brother.

After alienating everyone, and the revelation of his having shot an Afghan boy who was taunting the troops, he finally accepts going into therapy. The film ends, briefly, after the therapy, with a new return home, a more moderate reception by his girlfriend and his half-brother – and the possibility of some kind of exorcising of his demons and some peace.

1.The 21st century wars, the peacekeeping forces, preparation or lack of preparation of the troops, the stress in Afghanistan, the consequences? Violence?

2.The German background, the average German town, the ordinary families, jobs, sports? Typical?

3.The flashbacks and the suggestion of what happened in Afghanistan, especially the presence of the taunting young boy?

4.The title, David and his work as a peacekeeper, the return home, the German background? Young, a hero’s welcome, the ironies, his treatment by the military forces, by his family?

5.David and his age, his previous work, his friends? His returning home and Kirsten’s greeting, his mother, stepfather, Benni? His anger at home before leaving for Afghanistan? The soccer hero, the girlfriend, his friends, work? Coming home, finding the new address, Kirsten and her reaction? His reserve, wanting to be alone, tense, the awkwardness with his mother, the aggression towards his stepfather, his nastiness towards Benni? Putting the audience on edge?

6.The military, the ambiguity of what had happened, the interview, signing the papers, the recommendation about the therapist? His being called a hero, the medal? Being told to be silent, for the sake of honour? His rashness in telling Kirsten, Kirsten and her announcement at the party, the stepfather writing the article? The displeasure of the authorities, their reaction, David wanting the case reopened? The cover-up?

7.Kirsten, friendship, love, the initial sexual awkwardness, his own behaviour? The final aggression towards her? The bed-wetting and tension, doing the laundry in the night, Benni and the sport, helping, harsh, ridiculing Benni?

8.Benni, his age, the half-brother, his father, their common mother? Soccer, the criticism of his father, awkward? His being bullied, bashed, on the bridge? David and his talking with Benni, the change? The story of the frogs? Benni’s pet rabbit, loving it, its eventually dying, David urging him to bash the rabbit with the rock? Benni and his wanting to cross the bridge, his fear? David and his kindness, the training for the soccer? The aggressive moves? The game of being hooded and running into the trees, Benni doing it with the boy and guiding him into the tree, the boy in the forest, going to hospital? Benni’s dependence on David, the gift of the rabbit, going to the woods to collect the sticks, David and his giving him the hidden gun, taunting Benni, Benni fainting? David at the game, his berserk comments even after the players had left the field? Benni and his telling the truth to David and David agreeing to go with the therapist?

9.David and Kirsten, moving out, his suspicions of Felix, his job, going to the boy in the forest, being fired? At the party, the slides, the horrors of Afghanistan? His mother ignorant about Afghanistan? The card game and his telling the truth, the men and their reaction?

10.David’s aggression, especially towards his stepfather, his criticism of his mother, Benni and his choices?

11.The therapist, his unwillingness to go to her, comments on her breath, the attack? Her giving the card to Kirsten? Kirsten calling the police and the therapist?

12.The film not showing David’s time away but his return?

13.The tone of the second return, Kirsten more measured, Benni coming to see David? Grounds for hope?