Suggested TV Program: - Falco's "Jeanny" portrayed as a gripping incest tale
"Could you please help me? I have a date tonight and I can't look like this," a stranger pleads at the entrance of a hair salon during an evening. The salon owner is Jeanny Gruber's mother, and Jeanny, who is about to take her matura (Austrian Abitur), occasionally assists in the salon. In their small town near Vienna, four girls between the ages of 18 and 20 have mysteriously vanished in recent years. Despite this unsettling fact, Jeanny enjoys her liberty.
In merely nine minutes of its airtime, we're thrust into the heart of the film "Jeanny - The Fifth Girl," airing on Wednesday at 8:15 pm on First. This thriller from 2022 is loosely based on Falco's infamous "Jeanny, Part I" song that sparked controversy in 1985 due to its questionable lyrics and tone, which seemed to endorse violence against women. Countless radio stations boycotted the song.
Bridging the chasm between the film and the controversial song proves challenging. One reason is the modern setting of the movie, as opposed to the 80s. Also, Falco fans are adamantly opposed to seeing Falco's legacy associated with such a dark subject matter. However, Manuel Rubey, who played the enigmatic tax consultant and admirer of Jeanny in "Falco - Damned, We're Still Alive!" in 2008, offers a convincing performance as both Falco and the psychopathic Johannes Bachmann in "Jeanny - The Fifth Girl." The audience can't help but recall Rubey's intense portrayal of Falco, adding to the confusion.
It's difficult not to be captivated by Johannes' enigmatic character. At times, he's pitiful and emotionally burdened, while other times he's charming and confident, showing off his self-assured air. When Jeanny discovers photos of herself that he secretly took, she asks, "Why does a sick fuck need this?" Nonetheless, she becomes intrigued by his bizarre behavior – a blend of fascination, closeness, and skepticism.
In the movie, we learn that Johannes had a sister who was murdered. The only question left is whether Jeanny resembles her. And as her best friend, Luzia, also vanishes, and the local watch group turns against her boyfriend, Jeanny fears for her own safety amidst this convoluted and tense thriller.
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