In his love drama "Kater", Austrian Händl Klaus tells the story of a gay couple and their lost paradise, which they are slowly trying to regain.
There is a tiny moment in this film that completely calls into question all the happiness of love and relationships in the lives of this male couple up to that point. A few seconds that startle every viewer and are impossible to get out of their heads. Especially not for Stefan and Andreas, whose togetherness is now completely called into question.
A harmonious, tender relationship?
It is difficult to write about the feature film "Hangover" without describing or at least mentioning this decisive moment. But we want to avoid spoilers here in particular. Because this moment must surprise the audience just as much as these two men. Up to this point, the filmmaker Händl Klaus (he actually calls himself that) has painted a very detailed picture of the idyll in which Stefan and Andreas have settled. They both work in an orchestra, live in an old, tastefully furnished house on the outskirts of Vienna, have a large circle of friends and a harmonious, tender relationship. And even after so many years together, they behave like men freshly in love and sometimes just spontaneously fall over each other.
The fact that the two leading actors also had to perform some very sensual nude scenes was a surprising problem for the cast: "You can't imagine how shameful most of the actors are. It's as if they all had no gender," film-maker Händl Klaus wondered in an interview. "It was an eternal search until I finally found this couple. Above all, the two had to be emotionally fearless and be able to act really well. And the famous chemistry had to be right. That was the case between Lukas and Philipp."
A kind of experimental set-up
This refers to the two experienced theatre actors Lukas Turtur and Philipp Hochmair; the latter is best known to a wide audience for his role as a gay minister in the TV series "Vorstadtweiber". They succeed in making this great love for each other, the erotic tension and deeply felt closeness more than believable. The bond and trust between the two men seem so fundamental that nothing could shake them. But then this brief moment happens.
If you like, "Kater", the second film by Händl Klaus, who is primarily known as a playwright, can be seen as a kind of experimental set-up: How much can a love endure? Can you ever fully know someone you love with all your heart? And how well do you actually know yourself? Does the potential for a sudden, uncontrolled outburst of violence perhaps lie dormant in everyone? (Okay, a little bit has been revealed.)
Love that has become fragile
Until the middle of the film, the couple could be seen preparing heaven on earth for each other, but now the viewer experiences how an almost insurmountable distance has grown between them. Händl Klaus also depicts this process - saving the fragile love and regaining lost trust - in great detail, with carefully considered gestures and in touching scenes. What he doesn't do, however, is explain rationally what happened at this crucial moment. There are conjectures, hints and allusions, but no conclusive solution. You can find this cowardly, sloppy or, alternatively, disappointing.
Or only logical, if you see "Kater" as a simulation game. At the Berlin Film Festival, "Kater" was honoured with the Teddy Award for best queer feature film. It has since also won the Hong Kong International Film Festival's Jury Prize.
"Hangover". Austria 2016, directed and written by Händl Klaus. With Philipp Hochmair, Lukas Turtur, Thomas Stipsits, Manuel Rubey, Gerals Votava, Gabriela Hegendüs. 114 min. cinema release: 24 November.
Link to the trailer
Link to the Film website
