Almost 30 years ago, when "Johnny Flash" was made, Helge Schneider was 30 and thus half the age he is now. It is his first big lead role in a very experimental movie directed and written by Werner Nekes. Not much later, Schneider directed and wrote all his own movies. Nekes had been very prolific back then, but after this project, nod made a film for 10 years before he started a comeback. Also, Nekes reunited with Helge Schneider later on and played a small role in the first 00 Schneider detective movie. The film does not even reach the 80-minute mark and is very confusing at times, but very funny at the same time during several scenes. Helge's tendency to have female characters played by males in drag has started here already. He plays an electrician and looks so different here still. Much shorter hair, totally different style in terms of clothes and to me he looked like a nerd really. One difference compared to Schneider's later work is that there were no really provocative shots or even nudity in his next movies and this one has these. I thought Potzkothen was a hilarious name for his character and fit nicely. His mother was hilarious as well. And Schneider shines as a chameleon again when he plays all participants in a talent contest himself, including crew members, such as Christoph Schlinegnsief who I really admire. Rip. Oh and of course there is lots of music in here just like in all of Schneider's films. After all, he is a gifted saxophone player himself.
All in all, it is a very strange film, probably even stranger than the protagonist's later work. If you love Schneider's unique style of humor and comedy, you will probably enjoy it. Othefrwise, you will, most likely, have no clue at all what is going on.
All in all, it is a very strange film, probably even stranger than the protagonist's later work. If you love Schneider's unique style of humor and comedy, you will probably enjoy it. Othefrwise, you will, most likely, have no clue at all what is going on.