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How to Be Normal and the Oddness of the Other World

Perspectives 2025
© Golden Girls Film
Freshly released from a psychiatric hospital, 26-year-old Pia moves back to her parents’ house on the outskirts of Vienna – only to discover that she is not the only one whose life has fallen apart. Her parents, Elfie and Klaus, are also finding it hard to keep up with a world that is constantly changing. In the daily struggle to survive with a shaky new job, lingering heartbreak, her meds and social stigma, Pia stumbles into a reality that feels as unsteady as herself. Little by little she begins to transform – into a giant monster that threatens the world... or perhaps into a heroine who is destined to save it?
Who gets to decide what is normal? How to Be Normal and the Oddness of the Other World is an exploration of identity, family and self-discovery, and a young woman’s search for equilibrium and meaning in a world that is spiralling out of control.
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by Florian Pochlatko (Director, Screenplay)
with Luisa-Céline Gaffron, Elke Winkens, Cornelius Obonya, Felix Pöchhacker, David Scheid, Lion Thomas Tatzber Austria 2025 German, English 102' Colour World premiere | Debut film

With

  • Luisa-Céline Gaffron (Pia)
  • Elke Winkens (Elfie)
  • Cornelius Obonya (Klaus)
  • Felix Pöchhacker (Joni)
  • David Scheid (Till)
  • Lion Thomas Tatzber (Lenni)

Crew

Director Florian Pochlatko
Screenplay Florian Pochlatko
Cinematography Adrian Bidron
Editing Julia Drack
Music Rosa Anschütz
Sound Design Lenja Gathmann, Jón H. Geirfinnsson
Production Design Julia Oberndorfinger, Attila Plangger
Casting Martina Poel
Producers Arash T. Riahi, Sabine Gruber

Produced by

Golden Girls Filmproduktion & Filmservices

World Sales

Alpha Violet

Photos

Florian Pochlatko

© Apollonia t. Bitzan

The Austrian writer, director and editor first studied experimental media art and then directing under Michael Haneke at the Film Academy Vienna, before completing his education with a master’s degree in critical studies under Diedrich Diederichsen at the Academy of Fine Arts in the same city. His short film Strawberry Fields won several awards. After working as a visual identity designer for musicians and as a curator in a number of cultural institutions, he is now returning to his roots with his debut feature film.

Filmography

2002 Vis; short film 2006 Running Sushi; short film 2012 Erdbeerland (Strawberry Fields); short film 2016 God of Ghosts; short film 2025 How to Be Normal and the Oddness of the Other World

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2025