Horst in Translation ([email protected]) "Atmen" or "Breathing" is an Austrian movie in the German language from 2011, so it had its 5th anniversary last year. It is the first filmmaking work for Karl Markovics, one of Austria's finest actors. You may know him from playing the main character in the Oscar-winning "Die Fälscher". So yeah, it is his rookie effort, but by now he has made another film already. But back to this one here. It received a great deal of awards recognition, for example at the Austrian Film Awards, but it got also picked to represent Austria at the Oscars where it was, however, not nominated. Young lead actor Thomas Schubert, who also won an Austrian Film Award for his performance, is probably not yet known to many, but German(language) film buffs will recognize at least Georg Friedrich, who plays one of the major supporting players, namely the protagonist's boss. And Markovics of course.This is the story of a young man who commits a terrible crime that gets him to jail and the movie is about how he comes to terms with what he did. A lot of it has to do with his work at a morgue where he gets an entirely new perspective about life and death. Obviously, this one plot reference would not be enough for a 90-minute movie, so they did nicely in including a reference to his mother who abandoned him at a very young age and she says at one point that it was the best she has ever done and when she elaborated on this statement later on, it is an interesting reference to what the protagonist did because surrendering to the situation is always a viable option. I also liked the scene at the train with the English/American girl. Some may see it as irrelevant, but to me it offered a lot. First of all, it is the one occasion where the central character is just a teenage boy like everybody else and he experiences what life could be like if he had not done what he did and how just even the most simple things like having a beer were prohibited and on the other hand it shows that love is not (yet) in the books for him as the only woman he was looking for at that particular time was his mother.Overall, the movie needed a while to get going and really catch my attention, but the longer it went, the more it did. It is obvious that Markovics had lots of experience with all kinds of filmmakers and he successful transformed this experience in his own craft as a writer and director, the man in charge behind the camera. So quite a revelation for a rookie filmmaker at the age of almost 50 back then. I maybe would not share the universal acclaim for Schubert as the main character, but not because he was bad or any thing, but because he just did what he had to and was pretty solid, especially for an actor his age. This film to me feels much more about the story as a whole than about individual performance and I don't think it may be right to put one above the others, only because he had more screen time. But this is not a negative point either, or at least not one that leaves a really weak note in terms of the viewing experience. Like I said earlier, what maybe bothers me the most about the film is that it takes quite a while to get going and could have worked better with a superior first half. The ending was nicely again as it shows that the film is not about who he was (we never see the attack), but about who he became. A well-rounded effort and I applaud Markovics and the rest for it. Certainly worth checking out.

Philajeff This is yet another brilliant Austrian film. It is the directing debut of the well-known Austrian actor Karl Markovics and it is a stunning first film. Perhaps the main reason for this is the acting of Thomas Schubert in the main role. Seldom has a young guy so quietly taken over the big screen and he lives and breathes his character so thoroughly that it's almost hard to believe you are watching a movie and not a documentary. All the supporting actors are likewise presented in a very realistic mode. It is filmed under overcast skies (yes, Vienna has many days of sunshine but not in this film.) When the film quietly ends in a pan-out of another overcast sky, you realize how touched you are by Roman (Thomas Schubert) the main character who's trying to find a path he can travel on through life. Thumbs up!!

scotmalez This is a movie about guilt, dreams, redemption and ultimately hope. You won't like 18 year old Roman Kogler at first. He is sullen, uncommunicative, and in prison. Nobody else seems to like him either. He doesn't like himself. Beset by inner demons, he has committed some unspeakable crime. His only ally is the probation officer who is helping him to find a job that will convince a parole board that Roman is worthy to be released back into the community. Through the course of the movie we learn that he is a boy who has been dealt a bad hand in life. Brought up in care, he has been a lost soul who made a tragic mistake that caused him to spend his teenage years in detention. A job in the city morgue proves to be the turning point in the movie, and in his life. This job is the symbol of his eventual redemption. As his prison peers turn away from him in disgust at his choice of job, his equally wary co-workers, initially sceptical at having a convicted criminal in their midst, soon become accepting of the boy, and eventually encourage him to develop in his new role. A stroke of fate during a call-out one day, leads Roman down a path of self-discovery, which will help him to understand why he became the person he now is, and allows the audience to explore the damaged relationship, which needs to be repaired before the boy can address his inner demons and move on with his life. This is stark, often graphic, but never dull. You will end up liking Roman. As he understands what has brought him to this point in his life, he begins to like himself more. He exhibits an inner strength and confidence that belies his young years. You can be sure he will make a success of himself, in spite of the bad start that life offered him.

Superunknovvn Karl Markovics had to work hard to escape his signature role as Stockinger, the funny sidekick in the popular TV show "Kommissar Rex". It took a lot of "serious" theater work and the leading role in Stefan Ruzowitzky's Academy Award winning "Die Fälscher" until he finally got the respect he deserved as an actor. Now Markovics goes on to prove his talents extend beyond just acting: "Atmen" is his debut as a writer and director - and he hits the bull's eye on the first try.Apparently, Markovics has worked on a lot of script ideas over the years, but never deemed any of them good enough to be developed into a movie. Finally his wife convinced him to go through with one of those ideas, and rightfully so. "Atmen" is an artistic triumph. Not only is the script brilliantly written, but it is also flawlessly executed. The direction seems almost effortless, as if Markovics was already an old master. He seems to know intentionally what to show when, he's got a great eye for frames and unagitated pictures, and, an actor himself, he naturally knows how to direct other actors. That's not to take away from the great cast. Veteran stars like Georg Friedrich and Karl Rott don't disappoint, but the focus lies on Thomas Schubert who says a lot with just facial expressions. Obviousl,y the movie's success depended on Schubert's performance and the first time actor lives up to the task. He's a great talent. Hopefully we'll see more of him in the future."Atmen" is a touching and believable movie about life and death, tight-lipped, but never boring, bleak, but in the end optimistic. It's very authentic in its depiction of Vienna, its depiction of a boy who hasn't been dealt the best cards in life. And, most of all, it's got its heart in the right place. This really deserves an Oscar win - much more than "Die Fälscher" did, actually.