44/35
Twelve years after his escape, professional criminal Troian returns to Berlin. In the city, they prepare to steal a valuable painting, but the carefully planned robbery soon gets out of hand. This was followed by Im Schatten (2010). During the 2009 World Athletics Championships in Berlin, the audience could see how professional criminal Troian (Misel MATICEVIC) from IM SCHATTEN (2010) had to leave the capital for an indefinite period. Troian continues to act in a rather similar way: he commits old-fashioned crimes, such as stealing tangible objects such as watches, cash and paintings. He has no ties to any mafia or clan structure, he is a lone fighter, only occasionally participating in the team and out of necessity! When a coup in the Ruhr area does not go according to plan, Trojan has to return to Berlin to contact his old contacts (Marie-Lou SELLEM). And so it is: together with three companions (Tim SEYFI, Marie LEUENBERGER, Bilge BINGÜL), Trojan manages to steal a valuable painting by Caspar David FRIEDRICH. But then the problems begin with the mysterious client Viktor (Alexander FEHLING)… At the 2010 Berlinale, IM SCHATTEN by Braunschweig director Thomas ARSLAN was a long-awaited hit in this genre. An exciting genre film made in Germany, told with the cinematic means of the Berlin School. Extremely exciting, with rare dialogues and explosive moments of violence! ARSLAN follows up with VERBRANNTE ERDE without any problems. Gangster films remain a rarity in German cinema. With cold precision, the images of cameraman Reinhold VORSCHNEIDER (and IM SCHATTEN) speak of people living in a dark version of Germany. Dark places, in the shadow of nearby landmarks and yet far from the perception of the police and the population at large. Berlin appears as a co-protagonist and adversary of the film’s protagonists. The understated music of Norwegian composer Ola FLOTTUM (THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD, 2021) contributes greatly to this tense atmosphere. It shows a capital that is known and yet unknown. Many viewers will be able to recognize this urban expansion with all the streets in their surroundings. Ghostly places very close to us: scorched earth in the shadows! Misel MATICEVIC (IN THE FACE OF CRIME / BABYLON BERLIN) is once again very convincing in the role of the Trojan, of whom we will probably see more (Thomas ARSLAN is planning a kind of Troy trilogy). GERMAN FILM AWARD nominee Marie Lou SELLEM (nominated for KNOCHEN UND NAME / BONES AND NAMES in 2024) is there as an ice-cold mediator. But GERMAN FILM AWARD winner Alexander FEHLING (winner in 2019 for DAS ENDE DER WAHRHEIT / THE END OF TRRUTH) is awfully good and doesn’t have to hide from classic villains like Klaus KINSKI and Michael FASSBENDER. Thomas ARSLAN doesn’t want to take as much time with the third film of his Trojan trilogy as he did between 2010 and 2024. It’s still exciting!
