Der menschliche Faktor

Human Factors
Jan and Nina travel with their two children to their weekend home on the Belgian coast to find some peace and quiet. But this is ruined by a mysterious break-in when the family arrives. Afterwards, Nina has a bloody nose and Zorro, their son Max’s pet rat, has disappeared. What happened? None of them is able to give the police a clear description of the intruders. Back in Germany, the successful advertising agency that this bilingual couple runs together becomes the target of a paint bomb attack. Jan had previously made the single-handed decision to take on the election campaign for a political party with populist tendencies – a move that goes against everything Nina holds dear.
Director Ronny Trocker’s second feature film is a subtle family drama that smoothly transitions between different perspectives of an event. What took place and what it means is thus shown to us in diverse ways and is continually expanded. As he zeroes in on the state of mind of individual family members, he reveals the fragility and potency of individual perception.
by Ronny Trocker
with Mark Waschke, Sabine Timoteo, Jule Hermann, Wanja Valentin Kube, Hassan Akkouch, Isaak Dentler, Daniel Séjourné, Hannes Perkmann, Marie Rosa Tietjen, Steve Driesen
Germany / Italy / Denmark 2021 German, French 102’ Colour

Part of the Berlinale Summer Special

With

  • Mark Waschke (Jan)
  • Sabine Timoteo (Nina)
  • Jule Hermann (Emma)
  • Wanja Valentin Kube (Max)
  • Hassan Akkouch (Hendrik)
  • Isaak Dentler (Karsten)
  • Daniel Séjourné (Flo)
  • Hannes Perkmann (Alexander)
  • Marie Rosa Tietjen (Hannah)
  • Steve Driesen (Frédéric)

Crew

Written and Directed by Ronny Trocker
Cinematography Klemens Hufnagl
Editing Julia Drack
Music A. Dixen
Sound Design Jacques Pedersen
Sound Timo Selengia
Production Design Stefan Oppenländer
Costumes Ildiko Okolicsanyi
Make-Up Malaika Katharina Boserup
Assistant Director Kristian Portz
Casting Susanne Ritter, Jacqueline Rietz, Leen Verhelst
Production Manager Jennifer Müller von der Haegen
Producers Susanne Mann, Paul Zischler, Martin Rehbock
Co-Producers Ronny Trocker, Eva Jakobsen, Katrin Pors, Mikkel Jersin
Co-Production Bagarrefilm Bozen
Snowglobe Kopenhagen

World Sales

Produced by

Ronny Trocker

Born in Bolzano, he grew up in a small village in northern Italy. After completing school, he moved to Berlin and worked for several years as a sound engineer. In 2006, he took up a film degree at the Universidad del Cine in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In 2010, he returned to Europe to study at Le Fresnoy in Tourcoing, France. His work encompasses documentary, fiction and experimental short films and video installations and has been presented at festivals around the world. His debut feature film The Eremites premiered at Venice in 2016 and was nominated for the FIPRESCI Prize at the 2017 European Film Awards.

Filmography

2007 Amor Precario (Precarious Love); short film 2011 Grenzland – Terra di Confine (Land of Borders); documentary 2012 Eiszeit (Frozen); short film 2013 Gli Immacolati (The Immaculates); short film 2016 Estate (Sommer); short film · Die Einsiedler (The Eremites) 2021 Der menschliche Faktor (Human Factors)

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2021