14/27
Twelve years after his escape, the professional criminal Trojan Horse returns to Berlin. A valuable painting is about to be stolen in the city. But the carefully planned robbery quickly gets out of control. Next up is Im Schatten (2010). During the 2009 World Athletics Championships in Berlin, viewers could see how the professional criminal Trojan Horse (Misel MATICEVIC) from IM SCHATTEN (2010) had to leave the capital indefinitely. The Trojan Horse still operates in a fairly analog way: old-fashioned crimes, such as the theft of tangible objects such as watches, money and paintings. No connection to the mafia or clan structure, a lone fighter, only occasionally and when necessary in a team! If the coup in the Ruhr area does not go as planned, the Trojan Horse must return to Berlin to use his old contacts (Marie-Lou SELLEM). And indeed: together with three companions (Tim SEYFI, Marie LEUENBERGER, Bilge BINGÜL) Trojan manages to steal a valuable painting by Caspar David FRIEDRICH. But then the trouble really begins with the mysterious client Viktor (Alexander Föhling)… The 2010 BERLINALE IM SCHATTEN by Braunschweig-born director Thomas ARSLAN hit like a long-awaited genre bomb. The exciting genre film shot in Germany was told using the cinematic means of the Berlin School. Extremely emotional, with rare dialogues and explosive moments of violence! ARSLAN continues with VERBRANTE ERDE apparently without a break. Gangster films are still a rarity in German cinema. With cold precision, the images of cinematographer Reinhold VORSCHENDER (also IM SCHATTEN) tell the story of people living in a shadow version of Germany. Dark places, in the shadow of nearby places, yet far from the perception of the police and ordinary citizens. Berlin appears as a co-hero and adversary of the film’s heroes. The sober music of Norwegian composer Ola FLOTTUM (THE WORST MAN, 2021) contributes greatly to the tense atmosphere. It shows the capital that you know and yet don’t know. Many viewers will be able to recognize this urban sprawl with all its streets from their surroundings. Spooky places very close to us: a scorched earth in the shadow! Michel MATICEVICH (THE FACE OF CRIME / BABYLON BERLIN) once again very convincingly feels like Troy, whom we will probably see again (Thomas ARSLAN is planning a kind of Troy trilogy). GERMAN FILM AWARD nominee Marie Lou SELLEM (nominated in 2024 for KNOCHEN UND NAMEN / BONES AND NAMES) is like an icy mediator. But GERMAN FILM AWARD winner Alexander Föhling (2019 winner for DAS ENDE DER WAHRHEIT / THE END OF TRUTH) is frighteningly good and doesn’t have to hide from classic villains like Klaus KINSKI and Michael FASSBENDER. Thomas ARSLAN doesn’t want to spend as much time with the third film in his Troy trilogy as he did from 2010 to 2024. Be exciting!