Final Stage

The present, the whole present and nothing but the present. A young man on a footbridge, a bus departs, his friend is gone. This is followed by a majestic parade through a shopping centre. This central shot in the film is a fragile balancing act between documentary observation and subtle direction. Deliberately asynchronous sound serves to heighten the sense that events are nothing more than a construction of an apparently familiar reality. The boy's melancholic bearing, and the way the film unfolds, are embedded in an extremely expressive, albeit narratively minimalistic, dramaturgy of colour. Vibrant colours introduce each individual sequence: blue, green, yellow, orange, red.
by Nicolaas Schmidt
with Aaron Hilmer, Fynn Grossmann
Germany 2017 Without dialogue 27’ Colour

With

  • Aaron Hilmer (Ray)
  • Fynn Grossmann (Pär)

Crew

Written and Directed by Nicolaas Schmidt
Cinematography Arne Körner, Nicolaas Schmidt
Camera Assistant David Reiber
Editing Nicolaas Schmidt
Sound Design Pablo Paolo Kilian, Nicolaas Schmidt
Sound Pablo Paolo Kilian, Christofer Schwarz
Production Design Julia Frankenberg, Pachet Fulmen
Costumes Ada Genske
Make-Up Ada Genske
Casting Sarah Drath
Assistant Director Sarah Drath, Anna Hartlaub, Nina Wiesnagrotzki, Brit Körner
Production Management Ray Juster
Co-Producer Nicolaas Schmidt
Co-Production ETTG Film Hamburg

Produced by

Hochschule für bildende Künste Hamburg

http://www.hfbk-hamburg.de http://www.hfbk-hamburg.de

Nicolaas Schmidt

Born in Leipzig, East Germany in 1979, the filmmaker, video and conceptual artist now lives in Hamburg. He studied liberal arts, time-based media and film at the University of Fine Arts in Hamburg. His work has been presented at international film festivals and exhibitions. Final Stage screened in the 2017 Perspektive Deutsches Kino at the Berlinale where it won the Special Jury Prize.

Filmography (short films)

2008 Neuseenland · Neuseenland 2009 Sense+Innocence · Sense+Innocence 2010 Der Lauf Und Chopin · Der Lauf und Chopin · Ohne Schlechtes Gewissen Genießen · Ohne schlechtes Gewissen genießen 2011 Die Reise Mit Der Eisenbahn Hat Sich Durchaus Ein Wenig Gelohnt · Die Reise mit der Eisenbahn hat sich durchaus ein wenig gelohnt 2012 Forever · Forever 2013 Break · Break 2014 36000 Frames RGB · 36000 Frames RGB · Leaving Monochromia · Leaving Monochromia 2015 36KFRGB-S29: Die Manifestation Des Kapitalismus In Unserem Leben Ist Die Traurigkeit · 36KFRGB-S29: Die Manifestation des Kapitalismus in unserem Leben ist die Traurigkeit · Autumn · Autumn 2016 Compare · Compare 2017 Final Stage; Perspektive Deutsches Kino · Final Stage; medium-length film 2019 Believe 2020 Inflorescence

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2020