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Film Archive

First Work, Then Play

Future Frames: Generation NEXT of European Cinema 2022 / First Work, Then Play / Germany 2022

After Maxi wins an important music award, the pressure for her to release an album only increases. But pressure equals crisis, crisis equals self-doubt, and self-doubt does not make for a creative atmosphere. Maxi’s inner child can lash out as much as it likes, but her inner cop won’t give it even a minute to play or relax. A playful, glitter-covered study of depression and burnout.

First Work, Then Play First Work, Then Play

Synopsis

After Maxi wins an important music award, the pressure for her to release an album only increases. But pressure equals crisis, crisis equals self-doubt, and self-doubt does not make for a creative atmosphere. Maxi doesn’t know what to do. Her inner child is angry and resentful and her inner cop lowers her self-confidence, so she ends up feeling like a hamster on its little wheel – tired and useless. Brenda Lien’s graduation film is a playful, glitter-covered study of depression and burnout. She explores what it would be like if our inner child came to life and demanded the care and attention that we so rarely give it as adults.

Anna Kořínek

About the film

20 min / Color, DCP

Director Brenda Lien / Screenplay Brenda Lien  / Dir. of Photography Dubravka Kurobasa / Music Brenda Lien  / Sound Lena Beck / Editor Brenda Lien / Art Director Nadine Wagner / Producer Seemab Gul, Brenda Lien / Production FLINTA / Contact German Films

About the director

Brenda Lien

Brenda Lien (1995, Offenbach am Main, Germany). Filmography: Striated Stone Meets Fragile Ideals (2015, short), Call of Beauty (2016, short), Call of Cuteness (2017, short), Call of Comfort (2018, short), First Work, Then Play (2022, short).

Contacts

German Films
Herzog-Wilhelm- Str. 16, 80331, München
Germany
Phone: +49 895 997 870
E-mail: [email protected]

Guests

Brenda Lien
Film Director

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