In the Shadows


Trojan is released from jail and goes straight back to his profession
as a criminal. He gets hold of a weapon and looks out for
new jobs.


In just a few takes, Thomas Arslan sets up the anonymous world
of his gangster protagonist by falling back on motifs and characters
from the genre. The backroom of a car workshop, parking
lots, furnished apartments. One meets men and women
who distrust each other because they are all out to line their
own pockets. The setting changes constantly, with surveillance
and chase scenes providing a dynamic narrative rhythm.
Since crime makes up Trojan′s daily existence, the film concentrates
entirely on the technical nature of a life outside the law.


The reduced and clear-cut images – shot with a Red camera –
highlight the exact sequence of events. "Im Schatten" is a genre
film that focuses consistently on the mechanics and external
process of a crime. It develops a sense of great suspense, without
burdening its figures with personal stories. Each hand movement
has to be right. All of a sudden, the question of whether
Trojan will manage to start the getaway car on time becomes a
great movie moment.
Anke Leweke

Source: 60. Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin (Catalogue)