Karoline Herfurth and Florian David Fitz in Vincent Wants to Sea. Photo / Supplied
The title works better in the German (in which the words for "sea" and "more" sound similar, so the name sounds like "Vincent wants more") and the film probably does too. Debutant writer Fitz, who takes the title role, attempts to freshen the road movie formula by burdening his character
with Tourette Syndrome. Naturally enough, that has him issuing random obscenities, even though that behaviour is exhibited by only one in 10 affected by the disorder.
When his mother dies, Vincent is consigned to a care facility by his blowhard politician father (Ferch), who is keen to keep his tic-laden son out of the sight of potential voters. On the spur of the moment, Vincent - accompanied by his obsessive-compulsive roommate (Allmayer) and a dope-smoking anorexic (Herfurth) - busts out and heads for Italy to honour his mother's dying wish. Dad and the care home's boss (Muller-Elmau), whose car the fugitives have nicked, are in hot, disorganised pursuit.
To its credit, the film doesn't make fun of its runaways' conditions, which are presented simply as character traits, and what humour flows from their behaviour is gentle rather than mocking. But for all its quirky touches, it never rises above the diverting.
Stars: 3/5
Cast: Florian David Fitz, Karoline Herfurth, Heino Ferch, Katharina Muller-Elmau, Johannes Allmayer
Director: Ralf Huettner
Running time: 94 mins
Rating: R13 (violence, drug use, offensive language) In German with English subtitles
Verdict: Road movie with disorders
-TimeOut
