May 24

May 24 A stunning "The Audition" takes centre stage at the 2021 German Film Festival

The week of the world going into lockdown was also the week I was due to travel the world, since then the only gateway to the other side of the world has been cinema.

From the 3rd till the 20th of June, the German Film Festival is running at Palace Cinemas, the festival consists of new releases, classics and selected documentaries catered for all ages.

The Festival opens with The Audition, a drama/thriller following violin teacher Anna (Nina Hoss), whose perfectionism and indecisiveness begins to derail her marriage, relationships and training of a young prodigy (Ilja Monti). Recently, I have endured Spiral, Mortal Kombat , and other Hollywood fluff, whilst those films have their merits, it was an absolute pleasure to watch The Audition. The cast and crew are at their A game, delivering a white-knuckle thriller that gets audiences on the edge of their seat with the flick of a string.

The Audition is director Ina Weisse's second feature film, and her first in over a decade, however Weisse has not lost any skill. The Audition is a visceral experience, wrapping it's strings around viewers and twisting tight. Cinematographer Judith Kaufmann captures the streets of Germany with an anxious glare, never have I been so frightened of a violin solo in my life. The acting ensemble delivers on every front, however Nina Hoss shines with a powerhouse performance, Anna's downward spiral is tragic and terrifying, leaving audiences nervously awaiting every decision and it's repercussions.

The artist going too far for their craft is a classic trope, but The Audition takes it a step farther, Anna's drive for perfection, paired with her indecisive nature and violent self-punishment flow into a horrifying rhythm which results in a first rate drama thriller. Luckily, the fantastic presentation of The Audition would impress its own perfectionist lead.