BLUTSFREUNDSCHAFT
INITIATION
HOME RUN. New Cinema from Austria
16-year-old Axel falls out with his step-father and becomes involved in a neonazi gang. To join the gang he has to prove himself by killing a social worker. He runs away and takes refuge in a dry-cleaning shop run by 80-year-old Gustav Tritzinsky. Axel reminds Gustav of the lover he had during the war, his first love whom he betrayed to the Gestapo, so to atone for that betrayal he takes Axel in. Now Axel has to choose between his homophobic street friends and the friendship of a homosexual old man.
I bring the neo-Nazis, as brutal and repulsive as they are, into a position that primarily highlights background and reason. This is executed on the back of the main character, an 80 year old homosexual who betrayed his partner in the Nazi era. He also has burdened himself with guilt that he cannot deal with ever since. His best friend is a transsexual who is the source of the only joy in his life. A story everybody can relate to, that touches and moves every single one of us. I already picked up on the issues of the forgotten ageing gay community in my film Knutschen Kuscheln Jubilieren. It was important for me that the story takes place in Vienna, mainly because I have come across a lot of xenophobic and right-wing people here, who tend to go unnoticed by the general public. (Peter Kern)
- Helmut Berger - Gustav Tritzinsky
- Harry Lampl - Axel
- Melanie Kretschmann - Jacob / Christina Thürmer
- Manuel Rubey - Snoopy
- Michael Steinocher - Lippi
- Matthias Franz Stein - Wolfi
- Oliver Rosskopf - Peter
- Heribert Sasse - Willi
- Gregor Seberg - Dr. Kraake
- Peter Kern nach einer Idee von Frank Maria Reifenberg
- Peter Röhsler
- Odo Grötschnig
- Wolfgang Mohaupt
- Petra Zöpnek
- Andreas Hamza
- Boris Fiala
- Hannes Salat
- Maurizio Giambra
EastWest Filmdistribution Schottenfeldgasse 14 1070 Wien, Österreich T +43 1 524 93 10 office@eastwest-distribution.com
