Who is Herr (Mister) Karl? It doesn't matter, he is no one, he's everyone - especially to those identifying with him - predominantly people from Vienna.
The film only contains one scene in which Mr Karl tells the story of his life, his opinions, his milestones, his women, his relationship with politics and history, his bad habits and his view on life. To most people from Eastern Austria his words associate straight with their souls - he reflected what many people thought about the world and themselves. There is no real story or plot, it's just a definition of a character, almost in audition style.
The film cleverly transports its messages which appear to be "common Austrian sense" - they know everything but don't want to get involved into politics, they can do anything but refuse to make real aims, they have experienced everything but still hardly ever adapt anything new.... The melancholy of time passing by is the essential core of perception and narration.
Being Austrian I know about the essence of (East) Austrian life that Mr Karl tries to get abroad. It describes the Viennese view on everything - it doesn't matter, does it? It's a little bit of this and a little bit of that but in the end it doesn't matter - you're alive, you've come a long way, you stepped over many dead bodies, who cares, your neighbour did it too, it doesn't really matter then... That's the ethics this film inhabits.
I personally don't like this kind of narration and ideals transported - To me it's something I frankly don't want to be reminded of. Respect to the actor, to this one-scene-no-cut-film- making technique and the courage to release this. On the other hand this has become stereotypical and a guiding factor for any "major" Austrian film to come - to reflect the very soul of its people - which is usually dark, shallow and conservative. I can see how this particular film started this trend, and until today it remains the blueprint of Austrian cinema. Still I can't identify myself with anything it tries to make a point about.
The film only contains one scene in which Mr Karl tells the story of his life, his opinions, his milestones, his women, his relationship with politics and history, his bad habits and his view on life. To most people from Eastern Austria his words associate straight with their souls - he reflected what many people thought about the world and themselves. There is no real story or plot, it's just a definition of a character, almost in audition style.
The film cleverly transports its messages which appear to be "common Austrian sense" - they know everything but don't want to get involved into politics, they can do anything but refuse to make real aims, they have experienced everything but still hardly ever adapt anything new.... The melancholy of time passing by is the essential core of perception and narration.
Being Austrian I know about the essence of (East) Austrian life that Mr Karl tries to get abroad. It describes the Viennese view on everything - it doesn't matter, does it? It's a little bit of this and a little bit of that but in the end it doesn't matter - you're alive, you've come a long way, you stepped over many dead bodies, who cares, your neighbour did it too, it doesn't really matter then... That's the ethics this film inhabits.
I personally don't like this kind of narration and ideals transported - To me it's something I frankly don't want to be reminded of. Respect to the actor, to this one-scene-no-cut-film- making technique and the courage to release this. On the other hand this has become stereotypical and a guiding factor for any "major" Austrian film to come - to reflect the very soul of its people - which is usually dark, shallow and conservative. I can see how this particular film started this trend, and until today it remains the blueprint of Austrian cinema. Still I can't identify myself with anything it tries to make a point about.
