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{{Infobox film |
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{{For|other films of the same name|Crazy (disambiguation)}} |
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| name = Crazy |
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{{Refimprove|date=May 2013}} |
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| image = |
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| director = [[Hans-Christian Schmid]] |
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'''''Crazy''''' is a 2000 German film directed by [[Hans-Christian Schmid]]. It is based on the autobiographical book by [[Benjamin Lebert]], published in 1999. The film is a drama about a 16-year-old boy named Benjamin who, after experiencing some academic problems, is switched to a boarding school in an attempt to improve his grades. When he reaches the new school, he has difficulty acclimating to his new environment along with some coming of age issues, when he falls in love with a dreamy school girl named Malen. The part of Benjamin was played by [[Robert Stadlober]]. |
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| producer = |
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| writer = Hans-Christian Schmid <br> [[Michael Gutmann]] <br> [[Benjamin Lebert]] (novel) |
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== Technical Specs == |
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| starring = [[Robert Stadlober]] <br> [[Tom Schilling]] |
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| cinematography = [[Sonja Rom]] |
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'''Runtime:''' |
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| music = [[Kai Fischer]] <br> [[Christoph Kaiser]] |
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97 <ref name="IMDb review">http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0215681</ref> |
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| editing = [[Hansjörg Weißbrich]] |
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'''Sound Mix:''' |
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| country = Germany |
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Dolby Digital <ref name="IMDb review"/> |
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| language = German |
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'''Colour:''' |
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| runtime = 97 mins |
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Colour <ref name="IMDb review"/> |
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| released = {{Film date|2000|6|8|df=yes}} |
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'''Aspect Ratio:''' |
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}} |
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1.85 : 1 <ref name="IMDb review"/> |
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'''''Crazy''''' is a 2000 German drama film directed by [[Hans-Christian Schmid]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.timeout.com/london/film/crazy |title=Crazy |publisher=[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]] |accessdate=2018-08-11 }}</ref> It is based on the autobiographical book by [[Benjamin Lebert]], published in 1999. The film is a drama about a 16-year-old boy named Benjamin who, after experiencing some academic problems, is switched to a boarding school in an attempt to improve his grades. When he reaches the new school, he has difficulty acclimating to his new environment along with some coming of age issues, when he falls in love with a dreamy school girl named Malen. The part of Benjamin was played by [[Robert Stadlober]]. |
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'''Filming Locations''' |
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Munich, Bavaria, Germany; Rosenheim, Bavaria, Germany.<ref name="IMDb Filming Locations">http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0215681/locations?ref_=tt_dt_dt</ref> |
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<references http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0215681/ |
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http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0215681/locations?ref_=tt_dt_dt/> |
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== Plot == |
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Benni (also known as Benjamin), a shy, troubled teenager is sent to a posh [[boarding school]] held in a castle, after unsuccessfully having a troublesome time academically. His family drops him off and seem to be quite used to the routine of him starting a new school. He is terrible in math which gives him much trouble academically. |
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Benni meets Janosch, his roommate who has posters all over his wall including a lewd female nude, who gives him attitude when Benni tries to introduce himself. Janosch is seen [[smuggling]] beer underneath his mattress and dismisses Benni's warm introduction. During his first class at the new school, Benni's French teacher tells him to sit down in a seat when he arrives, but he tells her he as trouble because his left arm and left leg are paralyzed. After class his French teacher asks Malen to show Benni around the school. Immediately Benni falls for Malen as she appears to be very refined and has her head on her shoulders, as she explains her extra curricular activities and interest in [[choir]]. |
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Later on Benni buys groceries and tries to sneak a [[pornographic magazine]] but gets caught at the cash as it falls out of his jacket. He buys it anyways despite trying to steal it. Benni eventually gets caught masturbating in his room in bed when Janosch wakes up. Pretending nothing happened, Benni shuts off his light and lays still after Janosch purposely coughs to let him Benni know he is awake. Janosch then sly-fully asks Benni if his penis is [[paralyzed]] too. |
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The next morning in the school showers Benni asks Janosch what he has against him despite his physical disadvantages and wants to be treated like everyone else at the school. Janosch assures Benni he will be and then the boys throw Benni in the shower as a [[prank]]. In tears and in distress Benni yells at Janosch in anger. Janosch explains to Benni the boys at school do this to everyone who is new at school as a ritual. After Benni's initial initiation, he associates with Janosch, the alpha male of his small group of friends which include Troy, and others who all seem to be the social misfits of the school. Janosch seems to be sexually experienced as he asks Benni if he's slept with a girl. |
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In a voiceover, Benni explains he has always been in love with a girl, but they have always thought he was too weird and instead he would watch his friends pick up the girl he was in love with. At night he sneaks in a hallway with just a lighter to rip off a photo on the wall of Malen. Later he then explains his [[infatuation]] with Malen to his sister when he visits his family home for the weekend. During his visit, his mother and father argue to the point in which Benni's sister throws a fit and leaves with Benni behind her. She tells him this is happening all the time and Benni isn't around to see what really goes on, since he has been a the new school. |
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When Benni returns to school, all 9th graders have to attend a special [[sexual education]] class from a guest lecturer. The group of boys decide to go to the sex educators office during her office hours to pull a prank. Janosch says he will be the one to do it, if he gets a bottle of tequila for being the one to do the prank. The boys agree. They all meet her and Janosch goes on to say he is questioning his sexuality from Troy's advances. Troy is upset and leaves. |
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By now Benni is used to the routine of boarding school. He is social, and is seen out in the water with Malen while he is seen struggling to swim up to her and pull himself onto the dock despite his physical limitations. Politely she asks Benni if he needs help. He declines. Benni confides in Malen telling him how he thinks there are only two people in the world, ones who get math and ones who do not. The two further engage in conversation when Janosch interrupts them. |
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The boys go out in the woods for more fun and games when they decide to have a game of whoever ejaculates (from masturbating to a poster of a nude woman hung up on the cabin) on a cookie wins and whomever misses has to eat it. Benni and his friend are shown drinking and spitting out water violently, as they have lost the contest. Knowing person who works there, Janosch convinces the boys to all go to the strip club. Attempting to get in, they get asked if they are from the boarding school and then are told to leave my 11. This is Benni's first experience with a nude woman in the flesh and sees her pubic hair as he describes it “shaved and shaped into an arrow”. |
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During math class Troy is rocking on the back of his chair and collapses to the ground and is taken to hospital. Benni goes to visit him and for the first time, he speaks, and informs Benni he is not gay after what Janosch said when visiting the sexual health educator. Troy tells him the strip club was fun for him. The following day the boys are reprimanded and punished by the principle for going to the strip club. Benni's mother drives up to see him. His mother tells Benni his father hasn't been home and is having an [[affair]] with a 22-year old trainee. Benni doesn't know how to react to the news, but hugs his mom. She also tells him that she wants him to get tutored by his math teacher and that his teacher likes him and wants him to succeed. |
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Benni visits his mother and sister and are out for dinner. Minutes later, Benni's sister tells their mother their father is there with his mistress. There is an upset. Benni is seen in the car having a breakdown. |
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During a game of Foosball, Janosch hints at the idea he wants to Malen to like his new shirt he is wearing after the boys tease him. In the same night, Benni confesses to Janosch that he too likes Malen. The two agree whoever she chooses is okay and their friendship is more important. |
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Benni goes to see his math [[tutor]] at his house, and struggles and wants to give up immediately. He asks his teacher if he can leave earlier since it is a Friday. His teacher then gives him an inspirational talk saying how he needs to know what is more important. |
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The boys go to a house party, where Benni tries to confess his liking to Malen, but Janosch again interrupts and later on are seen kissing which upsets Benni. Benni wakes up still at a party walks down steps and is given direction by Marie who was sitting up against a wall. She follows him into the bathroom to talk eventually the two have sex with each other, as this is Benni's first sexual experience with her instead of Malen. |
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It is the end of term Benni decides it is pointless to write his math exam so he fails it. Janosch gets by with a D-. Benni then is flunked out of the school. He celebrates with the rest of his classmates and friends for his final night of the school. Benni finds out Troy is not with the rest of them celebrating and he goes to knock on his door, there is loud music playing so Troy cannot hear him as he enters the room. This startles Troy and a lamp is knocked over and broken. When Benni tries to help Troy with moving furniture in his dorm, he exclaims the bed is wet and Troy gets embarrassed. The two talk and Troy confesses to Benni he hates himself for it. Benni convinces Troy to come downstairs and celebrate his last night at the school. Benni and Janosch are introduced to Malen's boyfriend who is visiting the school and tells them they are lucky to be attending such a school. Malen and Marie along with another girl come into the kitchen where the boys are and surprise Benni with a song, as Troy reunites with them. They all sing together, one by one, ending the film with Benni smiling. |
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== Cast == |
== Cast == |
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* [[Robert Stadlober]] - Benjamin Lebert |
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* '''Robert Stadlober''' as ''Benjamin (Benni)'' – a partially disabled sixteen year old whose his left arm and left leg are paralyzed. He is terrible and math which leads to him to be flunked out of several schools. He falls for Malen but later loses his virginity to another girl he met at a party the following morning. |
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* [[Tom Schilling]] - Janosch Schwarze |
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* {{Interlanguage link|Oona-Devi Liebich|de}} - Malen |
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* [[Julia Hummer]] - Marie |
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* {{Interlanguage link|Can Taylanlar|de}} - Troy |
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* Christoph Ortmann - Kugli |
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* {{Interlanguage link|Joseph Bolz|de}} - Dünner Felix |
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* Willy Rachow - Florian |
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* [[Dagmar Manzel]] - Juliane Lebert, Benjamin's mother |
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* [[Burghart Klaußner]] - Klaus Lebert, Benjamin's father |
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* {{Interlanguage link|Mira Bartuschek|de}} - Paula Lebert, Benjamin's sister |
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* {{Interlanguage link|Jörg Gudzuhn|de}} - Herr Falkenstein |
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* [[Katharina Müller-Elmau]] - Frau Westphalen |
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* [[Karoline Herfurth]] - Anna |
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== References == |
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* '''Tom Schilling''' as ''Janosch'' – the rebellious, quick witted alpha male of the group. Benni describes him as a little abandoned dog, never knowing when he'll bite, with a certain sense of humour. He too is bad in math but passes with a D-. |
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{{reflist}} |
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== External links == |
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* '''Oona-Devi Liebich''' as ''Malen'' – the archetype of the “Girl next door” in the film who shows Benni around the school and takes a liking for. Janosch describes her as luxurious, he too likes her. The two strike out as she picks another, older guy who they are introduced to near the end of the film. |
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*{{IMDb title|0215681}} |
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{{Hans-Christian Schmid}} |
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* '''Can Taylanar''' as ''Troy'' – part of Benni's and Janosch's group of friends. He is known as silent and gets through life not speaking to anyone. Benni is the only one two is able to have him speak. Troy confesses to Benni he wets the bed at night which makes him feel self conscious and unable to grow up. |
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{{Authority control}} |
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[[Category:2000 films]] |
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* '''Christoph Ortmann''' as ''Kugli'' – an overweight, and positive member of the clan. He is the only one who stands up to Janosch's alpha male attitude. |
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[[Category:German coming-of-age films]] |
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[[Category:2000s German-language films|Crazy (film)]] |
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[[Category:Films directed by Hans-Christian Schmid]] |
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[[Category:Films based on biographies]] |
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[[Category:Films set in boarding schools]] |
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[[Category:2000s coming-of-age films]] |
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[[Category:2000s German films]] |
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* '''Joseph Bolz''' as ''Dünner Felix'' – part of the group of friends who takes a seat back from Kugli, Janosch, and Benni. He has a band which gets them into a party near the end of the film. |
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{{2000s-Germany-film-stub}} |
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* '''Julia Hummer''' as ''Marie'' – alternative punk girl friends with Malen who eventually sleeps with Benni. |
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* '''Willy Rachow''' as ''Florian'' – a bandmate with Dunner Felix. |
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* '''Dagmar Manzel''' as ''Benni's mother'' - she comes to his school when the boys get caught at the strip club. She is the one who tells Benni his father hasn't been home and is having an affair with a younger girl. |
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* '''Burghard Klaubner''' as ''Benni's father'' - argues with Benni's mother when he is visiting them for the weekend. He has an affair and wants to go live with a 22 year old trainee. |
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* '''Mira Bartuschek''' as ''Benni's sister'' - whom he confides in his feelings for Malen before he tells Janosch. She sees the dwellings of their parents, which Benni misses out on. |
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== Concepts and Cinematography == |
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=== Specific Film and Artistic Methods === |
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The film relies more on dialogue than action sequences. It has a slow rhythm to capture a real, conversation than a film full of action sequences. The colours used in the film again, are very real and natural, avoiding overly saturated looks. |
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=== Key Scenes and Significance === |
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During the opening sequence, a [[Point of view shot|Point-of-view]] shot is used inside a car to feel like the viewer is along for the ride with Benni to the boarding school. Thorough out the [[opening credits]], you see the camera capture the lights in a dark tunnel the same speed as a driving car on a city freeway. Combining these sequences with the Point-of-view shot, it is though the viewer of the film is seeing what Benni is going through when he is on his way to the new school to start a new chapter in his life. This sequence is key, since it also provides [[foreshadowing]] later in the film when Benni, his sister, and mother leave a restaurant after a fight his mother has after running into their father. This gives the audience the feeling of travel, a fresh start, and arriving to new destination with Benni's character so the audience feels the journey with him, creating and gaining more sympathy with the character. |
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Later in the film there is a [[voice-over]] scene where Benni is explaining his situation and lack of confidence with dating girls which further explains his trouble impressing Malen. There is a heavy [[symbolism]] in this scene since Benni is featured “in the dark” looking at photos of girls on the school wall, with a small light source. |
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=== Connections to Historical and Cultural Contexts === |
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Although the film is German it still has transnational context, especially being made in the year 2000 since German film had had more success internationally then ever before. German modern art films provide 'authentic' images and narratives compared to overdone mediums for foreigns trying to grasp a sense of what German film is like. As author Randalle Halle explains,<ref name= "German Film after Germany: Toward a Transnational Aesthetic">http://books.google.ca/books?hl=en&lr=&id=9r_K5cbkvyEC&oi=fnd&pg=PP2&dq=german+film+2000&ots=Wf2eudKg47&sig=6ndbxPtlZEJPwbfx-r-lPtK7Sqc#v=onepage&q=german%20film%202000&f=false</ref> German modern film speaks for a national community for an educated, global middle class. |
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The film features english language songs in the soundtrack which also allows more international gain and recognition broadening the audience spectrum. |
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===== Songs Featured in the Film <ref name="Songs Featured in the Film">http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0215681/board/nest/54041283?d=55564092&p=1#55564092</ref> ===== |
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# The Notwist - "Off the Rails" |
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# Anna Loos - "My Truth" |
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# Der dünne Felix und Seine Band - "Crazy" |
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# Der dünne Felix und Seine Band - "Wild Girls" |
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# Smog - "Teenage Spaceship" |
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# Slut - "Sensation" |
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# Credit to the Nation - "Somehow We Try" |
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# Pelzig - "Temper" |
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# Slut - "Welcome (Crazy Edit)" |
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# Vic Chesnutt - "Yesterday, Tomorrow and Today" |
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# Echt – "Junimond" |
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<references http://books.google.ca/books?hl=en&lr=&id=9r_K5cbkvyEC&oi=fnd&pg=PP2&dq=german+film+2000&ots=Wf2eudKg47&sig=6ndbxPtlZEJPwbfx-r-lPtK7Sqc#v=onepage&q=german%20film%202000&f=false |
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http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0215681/board/nest/54041283?d=55564092&p=1#55564092 /> |
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== Narrative == |
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As an [[art house]] film, this movie is based on [[character arc|character development]] rather than a strong, faced paced storyline. Each sequence in the film is more about how the characters have evolved than establishing a strong story line. The principle themes presented with the [[narrative]] are based around Benni's adolescence through his experiences of integrating his social life with making new friends, falling in love, and his sexual awakening through various events. |
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The films use of narration with [[voice-over]]s of Benni and outside commentary not shown in the film give further perspective inside Benni's character as a “coming of age” story. Benni is the [[protagonist]] in the film, while Janosch starts off as the [[antagonist]] yet at the end of the film transforms into a different character, becoming Benni's best friend. |
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Narrative functions in the film feature [[foreshadowing]] seen at the opening sequence of the film, and [[flashback (narrative)|flashbacks]] to further explore Benni's trouble with getting and keeping a girlfriend. The rest of the film is made through episodic transitions, instead of showing each day of Benni staying at the boarding school. |
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The [[setting (narrative)|setting]] takes place mostly in Benni's school or outside in the woods where the boys are unsupervised which generally leads them to do pranks on each other or create mischief like deciding to go to a [[strip club]]. |
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=== Themes === |
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The film features themes of adolescences adjusting and learning to adapt to certain situations in everyday life. The audience is able to capture Benni's life of living in a broken home, dealing with making friends and structure of [[masculinity]], the beginning of his sexual awakening and the feeling of [[Solitude|isolation]]. |
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== Formal and Stylistic Impressions == |
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The film uses a great deal of [[deep focus]], medium long shots, and low-level [[camera angles]]. It is mostly edited with transition techniques of cut-in, and cut-way progressions. There are many scenes which feature an [[eyeline match]] to show what Benni is experiencing when he is adjusting to his new school and lifestyle. |
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Most of the lighting is filmed soft, to show the naivety of Benni's character, following realistic and natural effects. The film does not contain low or high contrast. |
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There is a great deal of [[montage (filmmaking)|montage]] in the film. This is also integrated with the use of English alternative rock featured in the soundtrack. The montage at the beginning of the film is one of the key aspects and emphasizes the theme of Benni's hard time of being an adolescent. |
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Shot durations are long, and often quiet because this film is heavy in dialogue, so the rhythm and pace is much slower than a [[mainstream]] blockbuster Hollywood film which can leave many feeling the film is slow with not much happening. |
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== Reception == |
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=== Critical Reception === |
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[[Rotten Tomatoes]] collectively have given the film 76% rating.<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes">http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/10001031-crazy</ref> |
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[[IMDb]] collected reviews from critics and IMDb users giving it an overall score of 6.7/10.<ref name="IMDb review"/> |
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<references http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/10001031-crazy |
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http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0215681 /> |
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=== Artistic Reception === |
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As of 2013, '''''Crazy''''' has not been remade. |
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==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
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==External links== |
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{{IMDb title|id=0215681|title=Crazy}} |
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[[Category:2000 films]] |
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[[Category:Films based on biographies]] |
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[[Category:Films directed by Hans-Christian Schmid]] |
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[[Category:German-language films|Crazy (film)]] |
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Latest revision as of 19:09, 19 May 2023
| Crazy | |
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| Directed by | Hans-Christian Schmid |
| Written by | Hans-Christian Schmid Michael Gutmann Benjamin Lebert (novel) |
| Starring | Robert Stadlober Tom Schilling |
| Cinematography | Sonja Rom |
| Edited by | Hansjörg Weißbrich |
| Music by | Kai Fischer Christoph Kaiser |
Release date |
|
Running time | 97 mins |
| Country | Germany |
| Language | German |
Crazy is a 2000 German drama film directed by Hans-Christian Schmid.[1] It is based on the autobiographical book by Benjamin Lebert, published in 1999. The film is a drama about a 16-year-old boy named Benjamin who, after experiencing some academic problems, is switched to a boarding school in an attempt to improve his grades. When he reaches the new school, he has difficulty acclimating to his new environment along with some coming of age issues, when he falls in love with a dreamy school girl named Malen. The part of Benjamin was played by Robert Stadlober.
Cast
[edit]- Robert Stadlober - Benjamin Lebert
- Tom Schilling - Janosch Schwarze
- Oona-Devi Liebich - Malen
- Julia Hummer - Marie
- Can Taylanlar - Troy
- Christoph Ortmann - Kugli
- Joseph Bolz - Dünner Felix
- Willy Rachow - Florian
- Dagmar Manzel - Juliane Lebert, Benjamin's mother
- Burghart Klaußner - Klaus Lebert, Benjamin's father
- Mira Bartuschek - Paula Lebert, Benjamin's sister
- Jörg Gudzuhn - Herr Falkenstein
- Katharina Müller-Elmau - Frau Westphalen
- Karoline Herfurth - Anna
References
[edit]External links
[edit]| Authority control databases: National |
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