A "Beben" goes through Cannes

Directors and Script Writer Rudolf Fitzgerald Leonard knows only too well what it's like to be dependent on the help of other people from one day to the next. A serious accident at the age of 14 left him in a wheelchair for a long time. "What has stayed with me from that time and fascinates me to this day is the close bond that develops between patient and therapist in a very short space of time," says Fitzgerald Leonard. And it is precisely this connection that he addresses in his new short film "Beben", which is celebrating its world premiere this year at the Cannes Film Festival in the "Quinzaine des Réalisateurs" section.

The film centres on physiotherapist Mina (Lilian Mazbouh) and her adolescent patient Leon (Luis Brandt), who lives with infantile cerebral palsy, a disorder of the nervous system and muscles. During a therapy session in the therapy pool, an incident occurs which is recorded on a mobile phone by a few bystanders and posted on the internet. The video and its dissemination on social media have far-reaching consequences for the two main protagonists.

The role of Leon was played by 23-year-old Luis Brandt from Hamburg, who also lives with infantile cerebral palsy in real life. "Luis joined the project very early on and incorporated his experience as a co-author into the script," reveals Annika Birgel, who produced the short film with her Berlin-based company Problemkind and also co-wrote the script. She discovered the young up-and-coming actor on YouTube, where Brandt regularly posts content. "I wrote to him there - and a short time later he was part of the team. We talked a lot about stereotypes and inclusion in German cinema and Luis told us what he currently misses or would do differently in German film. That helped us and the film a lot," says Birgel.

Around three years passed between the initial idea and the actual filming. After filming had to be postponed in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, the team was finally able to get started in June 2021. Filming took place over six days in Schleswig-Holstein, including in the indoor swimming pool in the sports centre at Kiel University and in the Buchholz rehabilitation centre in Dithmarschen. But why exactly did the crew choose the northernmost federal state? "For many Germans, Schleswig-Holstein is a holiday destination in their own country. And there are many therapy centres here - perfect for our topic. What's more, many places in Schleswig-Holstein have not yet been seen on the big screen. The Rehahaus in Buchholz was unique and the swimming pool at the university in Kiel also has great architecture," enthuses Birgel. Another reason: lead actor Luis Brandt was born in Schleswig-Holstein and comes from the municipality of Trappenkamp.

In addition to the topic of inclusion and the relationship between therapist and patient, the film also addresses another issue: the power of social media. It is easy to anonymously post a video clip online that may have significant consequences for the lives of the people featured in the video. "With 'Beben', we wanted to shed light on how quickly the public forms an opinion, beyond right or wrong," says Director Rudolf Fitzgerald Leonard.

In Cannes, you struck a nerve with the jury with your themes. How does it feel to premiere at the world's most important film festival? "It really is an indescribable feeling - I had to read the acceptance letter from Cannes several times to believe it," says Executive Producer Birgel. And no matter what happens in Cannes, 'Beben' will definitely not be the last collaboration between Birgel and Fitzgerald Leonard. With the film 'Porcelain', the pair's next short film project is already in the starting blocks, which, by the way, is to be shot over six days in the summer of 2022 and once again in Schleswig-Holstein. Perhaps a secret formula for success? We'll know more next year at the latest.