Name: Abseits
Genre: Short
Released: 2006-05-23
Duration: 16 min
Rating: 5.2
Cast: Nadine Germann, Heiko Ruprecht, Paul-Louis Schopf

A good take on the lure of the cyberworld to escape communications problems

The film, while short, can be read at several different levels: as a depiction of the difficulties for establishing meaningful communication with other people, as a wrenching allegory of a teenager in search for an identity, as a slightly futuristic view of the possibilities virtual worlds offer to turn you into the person you'd really like to be, and so on. Many different people will find something here they can relate to.

The music, reportedly written specially for this film, is superb. The filming itself is quite good, with intelligent use of silences and sounds, and well thought-out camera work. Lighting contributes well to the film's somewhat somber mood, and helps to separate the real from the virtual world. The acting is far better in the "real world", with very convincing performances by the two main characters. The virtual world was evidently created with a limited budget, but also with quite a bit of imagination and dedication. Give these kids a budget and they could create some quite respectable sfx.

All in all, a worthwhile, poignant short film that subtly establishes a mood and an atmosphere that linger on once the lights go back on. The film digs up and exposes something many of us, one time or another, have engaged in.

German cinema is famous for its historical depth, expressionist aesthetics, and social-political engagement. It has moved from Expressionism to political reckoning, from New German Cinema's raw realism to contemporary genre experiments. Its legacy lies in both technical innovation and deep explorations of history, morality, and philosophy.

The short form refers to creative works characterized by their brevity and concise storytelling. Unlike full-length feature films, short films have a running time of less than 45 minutes, while TV shorts have a running time of less than 22 minutes.

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Abseits

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