Germany, 2014, 105’
directed by: Mark Monheim
written by: Mark Monheim, Martin Rehbock
cast: Jasna Fritzi Bauer, Heike Makatsch, Aurel Manthei, Simon Schwarz, Sandro Lohmann, Lauritz Greve, Dorothea Walda
cinematography: Daniel Schönauer
edited by: Stine Sonne Munch, Melanie Landa
producer: Martin Rehbock
production: Imbissfilm, Die Film GmbH, Bayrischer Rundfunk
Gijon International Film Festival 2014 – Enfants terribles – Audience Award for Best Feature Film (13 years and up); Bavarian Film Award Pierrot for Best New Actress 2014; LUCAS International Children's Film Festival 2015 – ECFA Award
Fifteen-year-old Charleen is a typical teenager who hates being a typical teenager. Being a big fan of Kurt Cobain, she shares her idol's fatalism and rebellous nature. But Kurt's music can only help this much in dealing with the hardships of growing up. One day, while feeling particularly melancholic, Charleen decides to put herself out of her misery. After a comic – and failed – suicide attempt, Charleen ends up in hospital and then in a psychiatrist's office. There she befriends Linus, her classmate. It is an optimistic and peculiar comedy-drama about a teenage girl who discovers how funny and interesting life can be, although it rarely turns out as we have planned it. It won Audience Award in Enfants terribles program of the festival in Gijon. The excellent performance of the lead actress received the highest acclaims.
Mark Monheim was born in 1977 in Bonn, where he spent his childhood. He graduated in Documentary Film Direction from the University of Television and Film in Munich. His short films include: Michelle, Alban Faust, Hass mich, Der schwarze Mann, Mit sechzehn bin ich weg. About a Girl is his first feature film.
