Short films 2 14plus

Broer (Brother)

D: Sacha Polak

Netherlands 2011, 10 min, Dutch

Eleven-year-old Lauren spends a few days at home alone with her older brother and sister, Wout and Marit. Lauren loves her older brother and longs to be near him; every time they touch, she feels butterflies in her stomach. But then one day Lauren catches Marit and Wout clandestinely exchanging tender caresses – and she feels left out.

Crazy Dennis Tiger

R: Jan Soldat

Germany 2012, 27 min, German

Taking pot shots with an air rifle at a snail on the railway tracks isn’t really very funny. Dennis does laugh though, just the once. Being a teenager in a small town in Brandenburg isn’t easy. Somehow he’s always so serious and wound up, like a tight coil. His only friend is his big brother. When his older sibling is injured by another boy, Dennis is bent on revenge. It’s too bad that his opponent is a wrestling champ. Director Jan Soldat’s hotly debated short film GELIEBT took part in the Berlinale’s Short Film Competition in 2010.

Supermarket Girl

R: Matt Greenhalgh

United Kingdom 2011, 9 min, English

He collects shopping trolleys in the huge car park. She sits inside at the check-out and has to explain the difference between two types of yoghurt. At first they just exchange glances; then there’s a shy, silent encounter in the staffroom. He summons up the courage to make a move and they get to know each other better. They sense a connection somehow. Sometimes a rubber band can come to your aid.

Jeunesses Françaises (French Kids)

R: Stéphan Castang

France 2011, 19 min, French

A group of pupils and school leavers agree to take part in a test and submit themselves to the tortures of the dreaded career interview. The young people are asked or rather interrogated about their goals and interests and their responses are evaluated. The questions that are put to these youths during this concentrated and multilayered experiment often reveal a more about their adult interviewers than the young interviewees. From time to time, the pig-headed, know-it-all tone of the questions can just be too much: ‘fuck off!’ says the last pupil.

Berlin Recyclers

R: Nikki Schuster

Germany 2012, 6 min, Without dialogue

There’s rubbish and graffiti everywhere – but that’s just perfect. A decommissioned high-voltage electric power station is the monster’s grotesque face. Digitally animated pieces of scrap metal and plastic morph into absurd figures and dance to barrel organ music and techno whilst off-screen the sounds of a demonstration and the barely audible cries of ‘Nazis out!’ can be heard. A scaffold with portable toilets, the sound of a tram. Graffiti comes to life – it’s Berlin alright.

Lambs

R: Sam Kelly

New Zealand 2011, 14 min, English

Jimmy, a young Maori, decides to quit school after an argument with his teacher. Nobody shows any interest in his reasons. Life is unbearable in his dysfunctional family where violence and alcohol reign. But Jimmy’s little brother and his sister both need him; he is the only one who looks after them. This film is a hard-hitting exploration of the conditions in which many Maoris are living today.

Banga Inte (Unruly)

R: Fanni Metelius

Sweden 2011, 15 min, Swedish

Gothenburg teenagers in 1999. Mickan doesn’t want to have a steady boyfriend and prefers to play the field. Leon has a steady girlfriend. He’s not like Mickan and tells her to his face – just before they have a quick one. It’s hard to know what you really want.