Identity crisis in abundance: the peacock in search of itself!

Identity crisis in abundance: the peacock in search of itself!

Wien, Österreich - In the tragic comedy "Pfau - am I real?", Bernhard Wenger's feature film debut, the life of the charming but emotionally empty Matthias (Albrecht Schuch) is illuminated, which suffers in a world in which he constantly plays roles to please others. When his girlfriend, Sophia (Julia Franz Richter), leaves him because of his numbness, Matthias faces the challenge of finding himself - a journey that turns out to be absurd and just as funny. The agency "My Companion", which Matthias heads, offers tailor -made friendship services, but when he himself is one of them, he is denied the most important thing: the ability to be authentic. As kinoheld.de , Matthias ’identity crisis becomes the starting point for a chain reaction of events that reflects his search for real life.

Matthias ’everyday life is shaped by situations in which he embodies dazzling characters for his wealthy clients. Whether as a "perfect son" at a birthday party or as a "completed partner" on a concert visit, the complexity of his business leaves little space for personal development. "You are no longer real, I no longer feel you," Sophia confronts him painfully with his emptiness. This relationship situation shows the terrifying deficits of a society that depends on appearance and status. It becomes clear that Matthias is caught in a world, in which superficiality triumphed about real human connection, as krone.at . The peacock, the heraldic animal of the film, symbolizes a person whose dazzling facade hides the inner emptiness.

a game about identity

Wenger, who has created his work inspired by Japanese “Friend-For-Hire” agencies, addresses the identity crises that are caused by a society in which more important human values often fall by the wayside. Matthias ’interactions, which are often perceived as a service, question the credibility of human relationships in abundance. The criticism of a narcissistic society is given by the strange and tragic elements in "Pfau - am I real?" underlined. When Matthias tries to overcome his own emotional dullness through the approximation of a new relationship or the revival of age, it becomes clear that real change is only possible if you are ready to face your inner demons.