SYNOPSIS :
Marko (Lucas Steltner) is a young boy working at a rural farming college towards his farming qualification, unsure of his conviction and struggling with his test preparation. Then university student Jacob (Kai-Michael Müller) enrols lusting a change from studying to become a banker. When Jacob meets Marko he sparks a stormy romance amongst the backdrop of pastoral Germany.
What is most captivating about this film is just how real it feels. The entire feature is shot in a very matter-of-fact way by director Benjamin Cantu, but never ignores the plain beauty in the German landscape; it excels in giving an honest portrayal of everyday people and their business about the farm. Nothing at all feels forced or contrived, and the film would pan out more like an incredibly stylish narrator-less documentary if it weren’t for the strong narrative that runs through it. There are also some simple but clever little cinematographic moments, such as the use of mirrors and voyeuristic angels, making you feel like you’re amongst the cast yourself. In short, Cantu ensures that you are wholly involved with the scenery, the characters, and the story from the outset and never at any point lets you drift away.
The entire feature is embedded with an unfolding beauty that is beyond mesmerising. It has an almost mystic quality that, despite being devoid of any grand climaxes, grabs you completely. An extraordinary debut.
