Imagine being middle-aged, with a successful career (and a failed marriage) behind you and children, alimony and a father with dementia to attend to. Such is the state of the protagonist of the film Der Mann, der die Welt aß (The Man who Ate the World) when we meet him. It prompts a massive personal and professional crisis, the course of which is painful to watch. As if in a frenzy, the father’s life slowly goes down the drain as he alienates pretty much everyone around him: his ex Lisa (Maja Schöne), his friend Ulf (Konrad Singer) and his brother Philipp (Max Mauff). All he wants is to be free. So what’s underneath it all? Depression, midlife crisis or burnout? It’s difficult to sympathize with this display of egotism and narcissism. And yet – or perhaps precisely because of this – there’s something captivating about seeing a man who, unable to cope with life, lashes out. Johannes Suhm not only stars as the son, but also co-directs (with Lena Lessing) and produces this independent, crowd-funded film.
Inspiration for Suhm’s debut as a feature filmmaker – he’s made two documentaries before – is the play of the same name by Nis-Momme Stockmann, who also co-produced the film. Suhm played the lead role in a production at the Erlangen Theater in 2012 before deciding to make a screen version. Almost documentary-like (cinematography: Tobias Kaufmann), the drama traces the despair of a human being. This Sunday (24.04.2022, 14h) the film celebrates its premiere at Babylon Mitte with its cast in attendance. Afterwards, a panel discussion will take place in collaboration with the Bundesforum Männer e.V., with panelists Simone Schmollak (Taz), Björn Süfke (therapist & author), Johannes Suhm and Dr. Dag Schölper (Bundesforum für Männer e.V.). The film will be released nationwide on 28.04.and can be seen in Berlin at Babylon Mitte, Kreuzberg’s Il Kino and Kino am Bundesplatz. You can find more information on the film’s website.
Text: Nike Wilhelms / Photos: Stills: Der Mann der die Welt aß
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Der Mann, der die Welt aß (The Man who Ate the World)
Nationwide film release is 28.04.2022. In Berlin, the film is showing at Babylon Mitte, Kreuzberg Il Kino and Kino am Bundesplatz.
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