- Clench your teeth tightly - ZDF film revolves around females
Psychotherapist Ina Lorenz isn't entirely consumed by her profession. Her agitated patient queries, "Fancy chatting you to sleep, huh?" Ina's session is abruptly halted by the unexpected arrival of her mom, who bluntly states, "You can't save every soul."
Ina is devoted to helping others, bearing the brunt of her shortcomings. This is vividly portrayed in the tragedy "Everyone Wants to Be Loved," part of the series "Shooting Stars - Young Cinema on the Second," airing on ZDF at 8:15 PM on Tuesday.
Now on its twelfth episode for the year, ZDF's young talent editorial team features this series, culminating in director Katharina Woll's graduation film from the German Film and Television Academy Berlin. Described as feminist, Woll argues that "Not only is a strong woman a good feminist, but also a complex, multi-layered woman. And that is Ina."
Anne Ratte-Polle portrays the 43-year-old Ina, grappling with several issues simultaneously: her partner's plans to take up a professorship in Finland and her relocation, her rebellious daughter's threats to move in with her father, her discontent with her job, and her mother's selfish demands for her 70th birthday preparations.
Ina's stress is heart-wrenching to witness. When she expresses her desire for self-care, her daughter sarcastically suggests she should have aborted her. Even the pharmacy assistant advises rest, to which Ina sorrowfully responds, "If only."
Struggling to balance her relationships with her daughter Elli (Lea Drinda) and mother Tamara (Ulrike Willenbacher), Ina risks losing herself. At her mother's 70th birthday party, she weeps alone, her partner urging, "You can obstruct your own path as much as you want, but not without me!"
Woll purposefully limited male characters' on-screen presence, allowing women to take center stage. Co-written with Florian Plumeyer, Woll explains, "We have enough male perspectives, embodied by male actors. For me, it was crucial to highlight three women instead."
At the 39th Munich Film Festival two years ago, the film was nominated for best director. The screenplay won the New German Cinema sponsorship award. Ratte-Polle won accolades at smaller film festivals for her nuanced portrayal. "Anne's complexity as an actress is fascinating," Woll says. "She's often cast for eccentric roles. It was engaging to see her in a completely different light."
The story concludes with Ina's life gradually calming down. She meets an old patient for a conversation, then finally takes time for herself.
Ina has an upcoming appointment to watch "Everyone Wants to Be Loved," a part of the series "Shooting Stars - Young Cinema on the Second," airing on ZDF at 8:15 PM on the 20th of August. Despite her struggles, Ina's life begins to show signs of improvement as she takes time for herself, eventually meeting an old patient for a conversation.
