Drama, 105 min,
Germany, 2010
Synopsis
Based on true events, PICCO is the first picture to shed light on the every-day life of youth prison inmates in Germany and shows in a gripping and merciless way that the contemporary judiciary system is by no means able to properly re-educate these lost youths...
Kevin is new in youth prison. Due to over-occupancy he has to share a cell with Tommy, Andy and Marc. A partnership of convenience in a system where only the strong prevail and which is dominated by violence and latent aggression. Oppression and beatings are a daily occurence. It is hard for Kevin to establish himself. Especially Marc and Andy are after him. He's afraid of not sticking it out. Only Tommy gives him an amicable advice: In this system, you're either a victim or a culprit. If he doesn't want to be a loser anymore, he has to start fighting... A piece of advice that will trigger most dire consequences...
Cast: Constantin von Jascheroff, Frederick Lau, Joel Basman, Martin Kiefer, Edin Hasanovic, Willi Gerk, Jule N. Gartzke, u.a.
Writer, Director: Philip Koch
Director of photography: Markus Eckert
Sound: Gunnar Voigt
Production Design: Jan Jericho
Casting Direction: Simone Bär
Editing, Sounddesign: Andre Bendocchi-Alves, 40° Film
Producers: Tobias Walker, Philipp Worm
Production companies: Walker + Worm Film GmbH & Co. KG / Philip Koch Filmproduktion / HFF München
Funding: FFF Bayern, FFA, First Movie Program
World sales:
Rezo Films
Sébastien Chesneau:
Tel : 33 1 42 46 72 21
Fax : 33 1 42 46 40 82
Cell : 33 6 21 71 39 11
sebastien.chesneau@rezofilms.com
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Festivals:
Festival de Cannes (Directors' Fortnight) 2010, BFI London Film Festival 2010, Cairo Int. Film Festival 2010, Sao Paolo Int. Film Festival 2010, Karlovy Vary International Film Festival 2010, Plus Camerimage 2010, 10. Transilvania International Film Festival, Int. Filmfestival Valladolid 2010, MOLODIST Int. Filmfestival Kiev 2010, Helsinki Int. Filmfestival 2010, Int. Filmfestival Oldenburg 2010, Jameson Dublin International Film Festival 2011, Int. Filmfestival Istanbul 2011, Festival of German Films Buenos Aires 2010, Filmfestival Manaki Brothers 2010, Filmfestival Max Ophüls Preis 2010, Fünf Seen Filmfestival 2010, Filmkunstmesse Leipzig 2010, Schlingel - Int. Filmfestival für Kinder und junges Publikum Chemnitz 2010, Biberacher Filmfestspiele 2010, Int. Filmfestival Braunschweig 2010, a.m.o.
Awards:
Peace Award of German Film - Bernhard Wicki (Newcomer Award)
Nomination for the Caméra d'Or, Festival de Cannes 2010
2nd Main Award at Filmfestival Max Ophüls Preis 2010
Nomination for the Sutherland Award, BFI London Film Festival 2010
German Independece Award 2010
Best Film at Five Lakes Filmfestival 2010
Bavarian Culture Award (sponsored by E.On AG) 2010
Best Debut Film, Jameson Dublin International Film Festival 2011
Press:
"This harrowing thriller is one to watch for."
Fangoria, 3.5 of 4
"An angry masterpiece"
Abendzeitung
„By far the most ths most gripping german film of the year (...) Extreme – yet never voyeuristic (...) Remember the name Philip Koch – this talent could rise to another Michael Haneke."
Programmkino.de (german)
"Picco is simply the german discovery of the year."
Kino-Zeit.de (german)
"Soberly shot and straightly acted (...) von Jascheroff's constantly riveting and surprisingly nuanced performance makes it hard to look away."
Variety
„The most cosequent german film at Cannes this year.“
Die Welt (german)
„A small masterpiece."
filmstarts.de (german)
„One of the most important films at Cannes.“
Schnitt.de (german)
“A shocking, strong and harrowing prison drama. (...) Haunts you for days.”
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (german)
“Picco is great cinema.”
Saarbrücker Zeitung (german)
“A technically perfect film with a top notch cast. A survey on violence and homophobia executed so radically that some spectators fled the auditorium.”
Stuttgarter Zeitung (german)
“An excellent film. (…) “Picco” is absolutely worth seeing, a film that shocks us, grips us and will trigger many discussions.“
SR-Online (german)
“Pure anguish, as experienced in very few films since Michael Haneke’s “Funny Games”.”
TAZ (german)