Marion Kellmann’s mockumentary-style drama is a scathing, offbeat jab at the soul-crushing realities of long-term unemployment, served with a generous dose of absurdist satire. It’s a dark comedy that knows how to hit a nerve while keeping a straight face.
At the center of this peculiar storm is Martin, played with painful conviction by Jürgen Rißmann. Unemployed for years and drowning in a sea of self-doubt, Martin’s every move reeks of quiet desperation. He’s a man who has grown so used to rejection that even a faint glimmer of hope – like an invitation to participate in a “retraining program” – feels like salvation. But, this isn’t your average workshop – it’s a “2D existence” program, where Martin learns to become a literal comic-book version of himself.
The film uses its mockumentary lens to amplify the ridiculousness, with the crew hovering around Martin, capturing his fragile moments. Fabian Meyer’s cinematography keeps things raw and unsettlingly intimate, while the script, co-written by Kellmann and Katinka Buddenkotte, balances satire with a genuine sense of empathy for its broken protagonist.
As bizarre as it sounds, ‘The Retraining‘ is a mirror held up to modern systems that dehumanize and commodify. The laughs come with an aftertaste of discomfort, and the sincerity of Rißmann’s performance keeps the absurd premise grounded. It’s a daring piece of storytelling that critiques societal expectations and the bureaucracy of unemployment with wit and unflinching honesty.
