System Crasher (2019)
December 4, 2021 8:54 PM - Subscribe
On her wild quest for love, 9-year-old Benni's untamed energy drives everyone around her to despair.
A German film by director Nora Fingscheidt. 9 year old Helena Zengel acts the main role.
Content warning for child abuse, violence, self harm.
A German film by director Nora Fingscheidt. 9 year old Helena Zengel acts the main role.
Content warning for child abuse, violence, self harm.
Where can a person see this one?
posted by DirtyOldTown at 2:24 PM on December 6, 2021
posted by DirtyOldTown at 2:24 PM on December 6, 2021
Apparently it's on Netflix? Not sure which country's Netflix though.
posted by Zumbador at 7:42 PM on December 7, 2021
posted by Zumbador at 7:42 PM on December 7, 2021
Late to the party on this one but can confirm it's on Netflix in Canada.
oof that was a tough watch. I counted three different times when a Hollywood movie would have off-ramped the storyline into an escapist fantasy of love conquering all, but this is not a Hollywood movie. That is, the photography is excellent, the leads are amazing, and the writing is sharp, but there are no happy endings because this is a story about failure, of trying and failing and trying again and failing again and...well, you get the picture. An amazing movie, but lord it was tough to watch.
posted by Mogur at 4:02 AM on April 9, 2023
oof that was a tough watch. I counted three different times when a Hollywood movie would have off-ramped the storyline into an escapist fantasy of love conquering all, but this is not a Hollywood movie. That is, the photography is excellent, the leads are amazing, and the writing is sharp, but there are no happy endings because this is a story about failure, of trying and failing and trying again and failing again and...well, you get the picture. An amazing movie, but lord it was tough to watch.
posted by Mogur at 4:02 AM on April 9, 2023
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
I am very sensitive to grim and violent films and usually avoid them, but this is an exception. There are many extremely disturbing scenes, but somehow the way they are shown, like vivid dreams rather than sordid reality, made it possible for me to have distance from them as a viewer.
There are many, many scenes of young children in very believable peril and I suspect this will be a extremely difficult film to watch for many people, especially parents.
The child actor Helena Zengel was so incredibly good. One moment she would seem much younger than her years, incredibly vulnerable, lost, helpless. The next, mature, gentle, compassionate, only to change in a moment to a savage, wild being, lashing out in a desperate attempt to gain control of her life.
A deeply sad film. It asks many difficult questions about mental health, both in children and adults. It has enormous compassion for all its characters and does not provide any easy answers.
Also, visually striking, and with an amazing soundtrack.
posted by Zumbador at 9:10 PM on December 4, 2021