Knochen und Namen

Bones and Names
“Don’t ask me how I feel about something if you don’t want to hear it!” “I do want to hear it, but sometimes it’s just not true.” Actor Boris and writer Jonathan are a couple. But their relationship has reached a point where they might as well spend their evenings together separately: one lies in bed reading scripts, while the other works at a desk in the next room. Immersing himself deeper and deeper into rehearsals for a new film with an ambitious director, Boris begins to confuse real and fictional characters; meanwhile, Jonathan tries to redefine his voice as a writer. During these days spent struggling with emotional distance and closeness, trust, desire and fear of loss, Boris’s little niece Josie flits about like Shakespeare’s Puck, testing her boundaries.
Knochen und Namen is actor Fabian Stumm’s directorial and screenplay feature-length debut. Unfolding in humorous and tender sequences that take place in demarcated, characteristic settings (bedroom, supermarket and rehearsal room), his film is an intelligent and entertaining reflection on relationships.
by Fabian Stumm
with Fabian Stumm, Knut Berger, Marie-Lou Sellem, Susie Meyer, Magnus Mariuson, Doreen Fietz, Alma Meyer-Prescott, Anneke Kim Sarnau, Godehard Giese
Germany 2023 German, French 104’ Colour

With

  • Fabian Stumm (Boris)
  • Knut Berger (Jonathan)
  • Marie-Lou Sellem (Jeanne)
  • Susie Meyer (Carla)
  • Magnus Mariuson (Tim)
  • Doreen Fietz (Natascha)
  • Alma Meyer-Prescott (Josie)
  • Anneke Kim Sarnau (Helen)
  • Godehard Giese (Becks)

Crew

Director Fabian Stumm
Screenplay Fabian Stumm
Cinematography Michael Bennett
Editing Kaspar Panizza
Sound Design Béla Brandes
Sound Adel Gamehdar
Production Design Nele Schallenberg
Costumes Marie Siekmann, Anna Hellmann
Make-Up Melissa Döberl
Casting Eva Roth
Assistant Director Nicola Heim
Producers Fabian Stumm, Nicola Heim
Co-Producer Nele Schallenberg

Fabian Stumm

Born in Koblenz, Germany in 1981, he studied acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute in New York and has appeared as an actor in theatres including HAU Berlin, the Münchner Kammerspiele and the Volksbühne Berlin as well as in films such as Lore by Cate Shortland, Bela Kiss by Lucien Förstner and Ivie wie Ivie by Sarah Blaßkiewitz. He made his directing debut in 2020 with the short film Bruxelles. In 2022, his second film Daniel won the award for the best medium-length film at the Achtung Berlin film festival. Knochen und Namen is his debut feature film.

Filmography

2020 Bruxelles; short film 2021 Daniel; medium-length film 2023 Knochen und Namen (Bones and Names)

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2023