KOMA (film)
Encyclopedia
KOMA is a 2009 Austria
n film written and directed by Ludwig Wüst.
The film premiered at the Moscow International Film Festival
in 2009. It received critical acclaim particularly in the French Canadian press.
Due to his gloomy style director Ludwig Wüst is often compared with fellow Austrian directors Michael Haneke
and Ulrich Seidl
.
KOMA is the first Austrian film and one of the first films in Europe that had a world-wide release on the internet as video on demand
on the renowned cinema website mubi.com simultaneously with its theatrical release.
with his friend Richy. Richy brings him a DVD with a video that shows a woman almost being beaten to death. Mistakenly his mother finds the DVD and takes it as a birthday present for his father and wraps it. After Hans has eventually returned home that night he finds the DVD and is confronted with his violent past.
He leaves the family and drives to Germany where he pays a prostitute to get information about Gertrud, a woman with whom he was able to fully play out his sadomasochistic fantasies. He eventually finds her in a hospital. She is in a vegetative state
and takes her to his new home to take care of her. The film finishes with a love scene between the two.
2009 the film had excellent reviews around the world, especially in the Canadian press after its North American premiere at the Festival du Nouveau Cinéma
in Montréal. Le Lien Multimedias Yves Tremblay noted:
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n film written and directed by Ludwig Wüst.
The film premiered at the Moscow International Film Festival
Moscow International Film Festival
Moscow International Film Festival , is the film festival first held in Moscow in 1959. From its inception to 1995 it was held every second year in July, alternating with the Karlovy Vary festival. The festival has been held annually since 1995....
in 2009. It received critical acclaim particularly in the French Canadian press.
Due to his gloomy style director Ludwig Wüst is often compared with fellow Austrian directors Michael Haneke
Michael Haneke
Michael Haneke is a German born Austrian filmmaker and writer best known for his bleak and disturbing style. His films often document problems and failures in modern society. Haneke has worked in television‚ theatre and cinema. He is also known for raising social issues in his work...
and Ulrich Seidl
Ulrich Seidl
Ulrich Seidl is an Austrian film director, writer and producer.-Selected filmography:* 1990 Good News* 1992 Loss Is to Be Expected * 1995 Animal Love ...
.
KOMA is the first Austrian film and one of the first films in Europe that had a world-wide release on the internet as video on demand
Video on demand
Video on Demand or Audio and Video On Demand are systems which allow users to select and watch/listen to video or audio content on demand...
on the renowned cinema website mubi.com simultaneously with its theatrical release.
Plot
Hans, a taxi driver lives in a small town near Vienna. When he is turning 50 his wife arranges a party with friends. But as the guests gather Hans wanders off into the forest and does not attend the party. Meanwhile his son is watching snuff videosSnuff film
A snuff film is a motion picture genre that depicts the actual death or murder of a person or people, without the aid of special effects, for the express purpose of distribution and entertainment or financial exploitation. For-profit snuff films are generally regarded as an urban legend, whose...
with his friend Richy. Richy brings him a DVD with a video that shows a woman almost being beaten to death. Mistakenly his mother finds the DVD and takes it as a birthday present for his father and wraps it. After Hans has eventually returned home that night he finds the DVD and is confronted with his violent past.
He leaves the family and drives to Germany where he pays a prostitute to get information about Gertrud, a woman with whom he was able to fully play out his sadomasochistic fantasies. He eventually finds her in a hospital. She is in a vegetative state
Persistent vegetative state
A persistent vegetative state is a disorder of consciousness in which patients with severe brain damage are in a state of partial arousal rather than true awareness. It is a diagnosis of some uncertainty in that it deals with a syndrome. After four weeks in a vegetative state , the patient is...
and takes her to his new home to take care of her. The film finishes with a love scene between the two.
Critical reception
Following the world premiere at the Moscow International Film FestivalMoscow International Film Festival
Moscow International Film Festival , is the film festival first held in Moscow in 1959. From its inception to 1995 it was held every second year in July, alternating with the Karlovy Vary festival. The festival has been held annually since 1995....
2009 the film had excellent reviews around the world, especially in the Canadian press after its North American premiere at the Festival du Nouveau Cinéma
Festival du Nouveau Cinéma
The Festival du Nouveau Cinéma was known as the Montreal Festival of New Cinema and New Media until 2004. Founded in 1971, by Claude Chamberlan and Dimitri Eipides, it is an annual independent film festival held in Montreal and features independent films from around the world...
in Montréal. Le Lien Multimedias Yves Tremblay noted:
Without falling into cheap violence the movie proves itself as exigent, sparse and confusing. Incidentally, the Austrian director has been rightly compared with compatriots Michael Haneke and Ulrich Seidl.
Festivals
- Moscow International Film FestivalMoscow International Film FestivalMoscow International Film Festival , is the film festival first held in Moscow in 1959. From its inception to 1995 it was held every second year in July, alternating with the Karlovy Vary festival. The festival has been held annually since 1995....
(Competition) - Reykjavík International Film FestivalReykjavík International Film Festival- The festival :Reykjavík International Film Festival , is an international film festival held in Reykjavík, Iceland annually. The festival lasts 11 days each year and emphasizes young talents...
(Competition) - Festival du Nouveau CinémaFestival du Nouveau CinémaThe Festival du Nouveau Cinéma was known as the Montreal Festival of New Cinema and New Media until 2004. Founded in 1971, by Claude Chamberlan and Dimitri Eipides, it is an annual independent film festival held in Montreal and features independent films from around the world...
(Competition) - Saarbrücken Film Festival Max Ophüls Preis (Spektrum)
- Hof International Film Festival
- Vienna International Film Festival
- DiagonaleDiagonaleThe Diagonale is a film festival that takes place every March in Graz, Austria.The festival was initially held under the auspices of the Austrian Film Commission in Salzburg from 1993 to 1995 but moved to Graz in 1998. Traditional cinema venues are UCI Kinowelt Annenhof, Schubertkino, augartenkino...
- Split International Film Festival (Competition)
- Nordkapp Film Festival