Jochen proposes Goliath.

It was the night of the underdogs in Hollywood, even for the Germans: The large-scale production "Der Baader Meinhof Komplex" was at the Oscars empty-handed, but admitted Jochen Frey Thanks from Alexander. The modest short films from Berlin took it with irony - and rejoiced over the good food.

 

Los Angeles - The life, the most beautiful stories. Only two weeks ago so have David and John Bunner a film production company. To the brothers wanted, says David, more control over their work and to maintain "just to protect" against the very big names in business. The name of their company: David vs.. Goliath movie.

A better motto for the night could hardly give it really. It is shortly after 23 clock in West Hollywood, and Bunner brothers from Berlin fall in front of the entrance of a luxury hotel near the Sunset Boulevards in the arms - this extra for the TV cameras, but still genuinely stunned. "That was the absolute hammer," says David. "We still do not really categorize them."

Just they are from the Kodak Theater came from the Oscar award. As they sat in the very top rank, "almost at the ceiling," and have seen the German large-scale production "The Baader Meinhof Complex" blank out, while her heart object "Toy Land" - a 13-minute vignette Holocaust, which they director and co-author Jochen Alexander Feydank without any studio assistance were turned - the Oscar for best short film got. David is Goliath.

An hour later immersed himself Freydank, in tuxedo and black silk shirt, the Oscar he clasped firmly with both hands. He had received the statuette, and then at the Governors Ball still slightly below the superstars mixed. His shiny bald head, his voice swings between euphoria and irony. How was it? "The food was good."

FROM blogs-TV ARCHIVES

Photo: TV blogs
Video: TV blogs

Toy Country:
Director Frey Thanks in interview
(blogs TV, 09.02.2009)

The Oscars had many great moments, especially the Durchmarsch of the indie film "Slumdog Millionaire." From a German point of view, however, there was a further voltage level: Underdog to Top Dog.

Four German productions were in several Oscar categories promises - even five from the German-speaking lands, is expected to Austria.

At the end, however, must be the most famous of them beaten - in the RAF thriller "Baader Meinhof Complex" by Bernd Eichinger and Uli Edel and the large-Antarctic documentary "Encounters at the End of the World" by Cinema legend Werner Herzog. No: The only Germany Oscar goes to a group of young filmmakers whose work has cost 30,000 euros and on the invitation to the German Oscar party afterwards not even mentioned by name.

This fits the evening. Even the Star-epic "The Strange Case of Benjamin Button 'cuts despite 13 nominations so poorly - at the end of the storm Indian children from the ghetto" Slumdog Millionaire "jubilantly the stage.

And so it goes for Germany too, after an initial startle second, the former GDR citizens Freydank through the auditorium to the front - with extensive giant steps, accompanied by applause nominated Hollywood greats such as Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie and Meryl Streep (which, incidentally, also empty-handed ).

At this moment, thanks to Frey, 41, is secretly prepared - even a brief acceptance speech, he has prescribed. But then everything comes naturally quite different. It begins, as an actor James Franco ( "Milk") tearing open the envelope and the German film titles can not pronounce - what he says sounds like "Jump-Sugländ".

"Toy Land" actress Julia hunters who Freydank as "Date" on the red carpet accompanied has Kodak and sits next to him, it is savvy at the top do not. "Only when he jumped up," she says, "I was that clear."

Front in bright spotlight forgets Freydank outlined his speech immediately and chatters "Just what else entirely," as he afterwards laughingly told. "Thanks to you all," he calls his team in the hall. And for him as an ex-DDR'ler West Germany had already been far away - let alone Hollywood.

Behind the stage, the backstage interview with the Oscar-winner, makes him the Hollywood press exactly two questions. First: Whether shorts ever had an audience? Second: Why such a Holocaust story is still worth telling to believe?

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As is Freydank seriously. "There are so many stories that have not yet been told," he says, and describes his motivation as "a kind of anger, such as Holocaust deniers.

"Toy Land" is about a boy missions in the Third Reich and his best (Jewish) friend whose family is deported to concentration camps. The mother (Julia Jäger) wants her son to protect the truth and lies, the neighbors went to the "Toy Land". Then tears from the boy to his friend to follow. Against expectations, the film but still a good, albeit simultaneously heartbreaking twist. "A Holocaust story with a happy ending," says the cinematographer Christopher Frey Danks ( "Cico") Nicolaisen.

The story - in less than a quarter of an hour more emotions aufwühlt than some length feature film - had a U.S. tour of the nominated shorts always moving reactions. Nevertheless, thanks to Frey at the huge press hype before the Oscars, the whole last week rather modestly in the background.

Photo: AP
Video: Reuters

For example, the first ever PR event on the red carpet on Thursday. A ZDF team smuggled Freydank - not even an Oscar-accreditation had only one ticket for the show - to interview the semi-construction site on Hollywood Boulevard at the Kodak Theater.

But when the cameras began to turn, suddenly someone with more appeal to: VIP chef Wolfgang Puck, a few meters straight official Oscar menu presented. Immediately Scharten the puck to reporters, while Frey thanking been marginalized.

Even at a gala reception on Saturday in honor of the German nominee Freydank promptly landed in the background - the growing frustration of his Californian PR woman, who for so long for photographs feilbot until her hoarse voice failed cold.

OSCAR 2009 - THE WINNER

Photo: Prokino
Video: Prokino

The clearing: Eight Oscars for Slumdog Millionaire

Other winners:

Best Animated Film: "Wall-E"
Best Actress: Kate Winslet "The readers'
Best Actor: Sean Penn "Milk"
Best Actress (supporting role): Penelope Cruz "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"
Best Actor (supporting role): Heath Ledger "The Dark Knight"
Best Costumes: "The Duchess"
Three Oscars, "The Strange Case of Benjamin Button"
Best Documentary Feature: "Man on Wire"

The German reception of the day before the Oscars - at the Villa Aurora, Lion Feuchtwanger Exilantendomizil old high above the ocean in Pacific Palisades - was devoted to the "Baader Meinhof Complex" and his team: Producer Eichinger, director Edel, the stars Martina Gedeck , Moritz Bleibtreu and Johanna Wokalek. When the troupe in the garden to the group photo was formed (including ex-CEO blogs Stefan Aust, the book was written), stood Frey Thanks again barely visible in the last link.

Sun is also in the night on Monday is an interesting tension, as Frey & Co. Thanks, finally, the Oscar is always included on the official German Oscar party show up - not as a host, but as regular guests.

The Constantin Film, the "Baader Meinhof Komplex" produced, the sauce on behalf of her boss Eichinger, and approximately 200 German celebrities and industry insiders into the garden restaurant of a luxury hotel in West Hollywood is loaded. Below Klaus Emmerich, Wolfgang Peterson and Jürgen Prochnow. Between gurgelnden fountains, palm trees and orange trees waiters served roast, sitting areas with scented candles to the guests to the fun captivated.

The mood is, even after the defeat of the "Baader Meinhof Complex," says cheerfully. Eichinger - in jeans and white sneakers - there is nonchalant about the Oscar-missed opportunity: "I'm not a competitor for Germany."
Even before he has the prospects of his film so as rather low. Either way: It was already "an absolute pleasure to be here." Whether he is now perhaps time with Freydank wants? "I do not know," grumbles Eichinger. "I know but do not."

Martina Gedeck raves about the "euphoria" in the Kodak Theater, Nobly Trunk Expresses Lust: "We Germans do not have to win to hard to be able to celebrate." But when midnight Freydank appears to polite applause of the remaining residual guests, because they all want but with his Oscar photographed - especially "Bunte" editor in chief Patricia Riekel, the Dictaphone and its first with the picture pushes.

Frey can thank all about themselves gallantly taken, smiles iron and repeatedly answered the same questions. "To properly implemented," he says quietly, "I have not's."