FALSCHER BEKENNER (LOW PROFILE)

Germany, 2005, 95 minutes, Colour.
Constantin von Jascheroff, Manfred Zapatka, Victoria Trauttmansdorff, Nora von Waldstatten.
Directed by Christoph Hochhausler.

Suburban alienation again, German style. Armin is 18. He has finished school, not particularly successfully and is applying, on the urging of his high expectation father and doting mother, for one job interview a day. We see several of these and he hasn’t a hope of employment.
Armin lives in a comfortable home and has a supportive family, including two older, successful brothers. But, Armin also lives in a dream world. He becomes fascinated with crimes and sends anonymous letters to the police claiming responsibility. He boasts to a would-be girlfriend. He has lurid sexual fantasies. What will become of him? Will he drift? Or will his guilt claims have repercussions?

A film for German audiences. Audiences from other nations may be interested in making comparisons to understand how their local 18 year olds cope and don’t cope.


1. A film for German audiences? The particular nature of German culture, suburban life? Adolescence? Its impact on a worldwide audience?

2. The picture of the German suburbs, the autobahn, homes, offices? Day and night? The musical score, modern songs, loud? More classical style? The world of an eighteen-year-old?

3. The title, its application to Armin? His low prospects? His anonymity? Living in a dream world? Wanting more notoriety? Yet remaining unknown?

4. Armin and his age, the detailed scan of his room, affluent, his parents and their expectations, love, his successful brothers, family, his going to interviews – one a day? Slow but shrewd in his answers in the interviews? The relationship with Katya? Ulrich?

5. The opening, his wandering of the freeway, coming across the accident, taking the bar, keeping it in his room? The newspaper item about the accident, his taking it? Typing the letter to the police, claiming responsibility? The arson situation and his assuming responsibility?

6. The job interviews, the personalities of those interviewing, their expectations, interactions with Armin, his slowness, vagueness? The interview with everybody wearing masks, his interview with Ulrich and Katya being the common denominator? The supermarket and the interviewer telling him he was not accepted? The job applications, the letters to the police?

7. The portrait of Armin’s father, his expectations, in the home, with his older sons? The mother, her doting, correcting him, getting him to do the shopping, helping with the cooking, their going out for a walk as a family? His finding this oppressive?

8. His relationship with Stefan, their discussions, the news of the pregnancy – and his breaking the news at the dinner and Stefan’s anger? Martin as older, trying to give advice?

9. Armin and his growing isolation, the item about peeing in the bath and his doing so? His sexual fantasies, the leather-clad bikies, domination, the homosexual atmosphere? His parents coming home to catch him – part of the fantasy, the loud music?

10. The friendship with Katya, going out with her? Their discussions, in the restaurant, his claims? Ulrich, their discussions – and the wrong Ulrich, the old man in the hospital?

11. His being arrested, running, taken, Katya seeing this? His future – if any?

12. A portrait of contemporary youth alienation?