Die Josef-Trilogie
Feature Film, AT/IT/CA 1995-2004, Farbe+SW, 65 min., OmeU
Diagonale 2016
Director, Script: Thomas Woschitz
Cast: Martin Honsel, Arthur Klemt, Gerhard Kubelka, Alessandro Piva, Jürgen Maurer, Philip Amann, Helmut Stockhammer, Ruthild Rieser, Hannes Pirker, Sarah Trampitsch, Sebastian Staudinger, Georg Pörtsch, Anton Malle, Lisa Godin, Catherine Beaudry, Gary E. Plummer, Kumar Manickam, Josie Boutillier, Morgan McKee, Linda McLean, Vanessa Perri, James Cox, Ralph J. Fournier
Camera: Arnaldo Catinari, Arthur Cooper
Editor: Thomas Woschitz, Johannes Nakajima
Location Sound: Thomas Herzog, Oliver Jerney, Joe Knauer, Benito Amaro
Music: Oliver Welter, Stefan Deisenberger
Production Design: Gerhard Fresacher, Hermann Riessner
Costumes: Cinzia Cioffi, Markus Kuscher, Michaela Haag
Producers: Gabriele Kranzelbinder
Production: KGP Kranzelbinder Gabriele Production
Die Josef-Trilogie tells the story of the lumberjacks
Josef, Josef, Josef, Josef, and Josef. Their
big dream is Canada, but unfortunately all they can
afford is a used Opel Rekord. A young mountain
farmer convinces the five Josefs to take part in a
coup, which fails. Seven years later they manage to
leave the old continent. But the new world proves
an illusion, flickering away like the soap operas on
the motel room television …
(Production notes)
Although the three stories constitute a whole,
in terms of genre they differ greatly. The first indicates
Woschitz’s origins — the Austrian experimental
scene. The second seems to be inspired by Austrian
Heimatfilm, i.e., melodrama from the Alps, but in
Woschitz’s take there is no glossy color print. In the
third story, with his humor and stark minimalism,
Woschitz joins the family of filmmakers that includes
Jim Jarmusch and Aki Kaurismäki.
(kinoscala.cz)