Gift bags on the seats containing pamphlets, popcorn, sweets, earphones and more, and speeches aside, it was on with the Opening Night Film 'Goodbye Berlin', or Tschick.
Goethe Institut Australien & Film Fest Director, Sonja Griegoschewski's welcome speech. Image by writer
Based on the novel by Wolfgang Herrndorf (which was published in Australia under the title 'Why we took the car') and directed by multi award winning director Fatih Akin, it comes straight from a theatrical release in Germany, making it fresh off the German shores to ours.
It follows two young outsiders and unlikely friends; teenage boys who steal a car and go on a road trip of a lifetime through provincial Germany. For Maik and Tschick, it takes them on a journey of discovery.
Maik is from an upper middle class family but he's emotionally neglected. Tschick is a teen from a poor district of Berlin, born to Russian Immigrants.
Anand Batbileg (Tschick) and Tristan Göbel (Maik) do a great job at playing unlikely brothers in arms, thrown together by fate to embark on a bromance road trip of a lifetime. Two misfits, a stolen Lada, free summer days and a Richard Clayderman cassette sets the scene for Maik who has a vivid imagination that rivals scenes from 'Kill Bill' and Tschick who has a few surprises of his own.
Sprawling scenes of the countryside, interesting characters met on the journey, and a mother who readily heads for rehab as her second home adds to the flavour of this naturally hilarious film with lots of laugh-out -loud moments.
The two young stars give a great performance but Tschick just has a shining way about him that endears him to you. It's definitely one I'd put high on the list of 'must see' films at this year's German Film Festival if you're after a bit of a teen coming of age movie that's befitting of both teens and adults, with more than a few good belly laughs along the way.
Be sure to check out all the other films of this festival and start booking into special events that have already 'sold out' in some states. Head for the festival site and start picking out your likely favourites so you don't miss out. Find festival dates below and a pdf format of the program.