Need a cultured boyfriend to charm your friends? A perfect son to impress your in-laws? Or maybe just someone to argue with before that big showdown? Matthias has you covered. He’s the man you can rent to play any role—but living as his true self? That’s the one part he hasn’t quite figured out yet.
In this razor-sharp debut by Bernhard Wenger, BAFTA-nominated actor Albrecht Schuch, who featured in the 4 times Oscar winner All Quiet on the Western Front, delivers an unforgettable performance brimming with black humour, physical precision, and simmering emotional chaos. His portrayal of a man expertly performing for others while quietly crumbling inside is both hilarious and heartbreakingly human.
Described by Variety’s Guy Lodge as “a tart, funny, slightly heartbreaking debut” and “a superb black comedy,” this corrosive comedy cuts to the core of human connection with both wit and grit. A polished, snappy, and deliciously dark film that proves pretending can be exhausting—and being yourself is the hardest act of all.
London Premiere + Q&A with director Bernhard Wenger, moderated by Guy Lodge
Screening presented as part of watchAUT (13 – 16 March)
The Austrian Cultural Forum London, in cooperation with the Austrian Film Institute, presents the third edition of watchAUT, a dedicated film festival featuring the best new and recent films to emerge from Austria. Running 13–16 March 2025 at Ciné Lumière and the ICA, it provides a glimpse of the world as perceived by the current generation of Austrian filmmakers. With a focus on today’s hottest issues making waves in front of and behind the camera, watchAUT is both a timely snapshot and an intriguing reflection of the current status quo. It’s also an opportunity to preview anticipated new films by Austrian directors, as well as to see acclaimed titles that haven’t had a UK theatrical release on the big screen.