German film director and writer Fabian Stumm also stars in this comedy-drama that is as contradictory as its title in portraying the absurdity of the human condition with humor and wit.

Joseph (Fabian Stumm)  is a quiet and shy gay film director,  with his best friend Sonya (Haley Luise Jones) they decided to procreate and have a two or three-year-old son named Pino (Justus Meyer).  In an introductory sequence, the boy´s mother shows loving care and immediately afterward she turns loud and aggressive;  we learn she has been in a clinic and is under medical treatment.   A bit later we watch father and son at home in front of the TV set choosing a film to watch, father advises The Wizard of Oz while the boy, by chance, chooses Carrie.

Joseph is a single man, he is in the aftermath of a relationship with Marc (Jonas Dassler), a handsome younger boyfriend. As a movie maker, he has two projects in hand, the promotion of the last film he made and the development of a new  film.  There are two interesting sequences where he discusses  with his producer Gero (Godehard Giese), among other things  the kind of humor in the new film, Gero´s remarking awful things can´t be funny…

The picture shows peculiar tragic/comic situations, to name a few:  the producer´s petting his dog with chewable treats,  Joseph´s left hand fingers stucked in the snack machine,  two patients at the ER one of them with both arms broken,  Sonya’s intimate monologue expressing concerns one night at home, a visit at the Museum of Natural History and the off voice of a woman from a scene of Joseph´s film,  the cocktail party after the film premiere ( kisses included and an Italian touch )… and the highlight of the talented Art teacher /sculptress Elin (Ulrica Flach) reciting Joan of Arc´s monologue.

As said in the footage, a  comedy that is sad.  The empathy it provides is the achievement of this earnest tale of  self reflection and healing. So worth watching.  In German, English and Italian.      

Review by José Mayorgas , Guatemala, Central America lawyer and notary public, visual artist, and editor of El Azar Cultural, lives and works in Guatemala City. Cinema lover, curious about the possibilities life brings and eager to live the experience.