The finest depiction of repressed homosexuality in the military since Beau Travail. That’s some pedigree. While studying at film school, Viennese director David Wagner came across a fascinating magazine article about a notorious trainer of Austrian military recruits. Sergeant Major Eismayer was infamous for his questionable code of conduct. Years later, this revelatory read inspired Wagner’s award-winning debut feature.
Merciless in his punishments, Eismayer (Gerard Liebmann) singles out Falak (Luka Dimic) for particular disdain due to his Bosnian heritage and open homosexuality. Beyond the barracks, Eismayer enjoys an outwardly steady home life with his wife and young son. But, shaken by the arrival of the new recruit, the suppression of his own sexuality becomes an increasing struggle.
Wagner depicts the dynamics of a military institution through finely crafted interactions that lift this debut well above the confines of a standard coming out journey. The equilibrium of physical strength and emotional courage begins to gradually shift. Driving it all is an unmatchable performance from Gerald Liebmann. As the ruthless mentor, he is no military movie caricature, imbuing soul into the titular Eismayer.
DAVID WAGNER (b. 1982) grew up in a suburb of Vienna. Already in the early 2000s, he was making films with a group of friends. Initially working in various roles within the film industry, he later pursued film studies at the NYU – Tisch School of Arts Summer School and completed a master’s degree in directing at the Hamburg Media School (2014-16). Since then, Wagner’s short films, often portraying unlikely characters, have been screened and awarded in numerous short film festivals, such as the Max Ophüls Preis Film Festival. His first feature film Eismayer premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2022, where it was awarded as the best film of the Critics’ Week.
Milja Mikkola