Servus Papa, See You in Hell
A marvellously energetic cinematic journey through dark human territory.
The notorious Otto Muehl ccommune near Vienna was a hotbed of extremes. Kids were separated from parents, and grown-ups forbidden to form stable relationships. All in the name of progress. Otto’s greatest commandment: “Sex is allowed, but love is forbidden.”
Beneath it all were the workings of a cult leader taking it all for himself. Punkishly free in its aesthetics and authentic at the same time, “Servus Papa, See You In Hell” portrays the commune through the eyes of a rebellious girl. A girl ready to dismantle the patriarchy in her very own way.
Scriptwriter Jeanne Tremsal grew up in the commune in the 1980s, and has created an amazing script together with well-established director Christopher Roth (“Baader”). It transcends the autobiographical by far. In essence, the authors create a cinematic performance of power dynamics, of the mass going against an individual, of individuals fighting for freedom under pressure.
Amazingly acted throughout, the key confrontation between Clemens Schick (an outstanding performance in his long-lasting career!) and sensational newcomer Jana McKinnon is a wild one – and leads to a finale that will leave nobody untouched.
Christoph Gröner
Christopher Roth is a graduate of the University of Television and Film Munich (HFF). In 1994 he made his first motion picture, "Loosers!", and in 1998 the TV movie "Candy"; both scripts were co-written with Martin Rauhaus. In 2001 he shot "Baader", which was awarded the Alfred Bauer Prize at the 2002 Berlinale. In the art field, he has made films with Vera Lehndorff, Armen Avanessian, and Arno Brandlhuber. His segment film "Spring" was made in collaboration with Colin MacCabe and Tilda Swinton and was screened in "The Season in Quincy: Four Portraits of John Berger" as part of the 2016 Berlinale Special.
Filmography
Looosers! (1995), Candy (1998), Baader (2002), Lacoma (2009), Mozartbique (2013, doc, co-dir), Hyperstition (2015, doc), Servus Papa - See You in Hell (2022)
Grand Prix for The Best Film, grant of 20 000 euros from the city of Tallinn, Award for Best Director, grant of 5000€ from Alexela
