Dein Herz in meinem Hirn

Controversy, humour and activism go hand-in-hand with Rosa von Praunheim, a familiar guest at this film festival. The gay film maker does not shy away from using the homeless and porn stars as actors or from ‘outing’ well-known figures from showbiz or politics without them realizing it. Your Heart in My Brain is about cannibalism, a subject that Von Praunheim tackled briefly in 1999 in his exuberant camp comedy Can I Be your Bratwurst, Please? This feature, however, has a much more serious and consistent undertone. The oppressive Kammerspiel revolves around two men (well acted by Martin Ontrop and Martin Molitor) who have got to know each other on a chat site for chess players. The recently divorced Achim is a teacher, but has been at home in a depression for months. His new friend Peter tries to help him pull himself together using sadomasochistic role-play. At a certain moment, they act out the Rothenburger cannibals – a notorious true case from 2001. Peter threatens to cut off his penis and asks Achim to kill him and eat him up. After what has happened, Achim cannot get rid of Peter. The meat in the freezer is too confrontational. Peter appears everywhere – in the cellar, the bedroom – and tells Achim that he should be proud of what he’s done. (PvH)

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