Avoiding Pigeonholes
However, that was not the end of the project. Although the production company abandoned its plans following Randau’s revelations, the director decided: "I had done so much research; I didn’t want to give it all up." Ultimately, his persistence and tenacity led to him presenting a film of his own about Felix Kersten, "Ich ist ein Anderer" ("I is Another"), at Locarno Film Festival. Rather than a standard biopic, the project developed into an intimate psychological drama in which a journalist tries to expose Kersten.
Admittedly, it would have been easier for Randau to accept the initial offer. His previous film, the Stone Age adventure "Der Mann aus dem Eis" ("Iceman"), had been released back in 2017, and the preparations for "I is Another" were complex. He did score an early casting coup by securing Danish star Claes Bang ("The Square") for the role of Kersten, but many German financiers rejected the project: "People were put off by the subject matter. The prevailing view was that such characters should never be given a platform."
He found that hard to grasp: "This man was an opportunist through and through, but he ended up doing the right things for the wrong reasons. There is social relevance in that, especially given that we live in times when we can’t agree on many shared beliefs." Its central figure links "I is Another" – despite all the thematic and stylistic differences – to Randau’s earlier films, such as the coming-of-age story "Northern Star" (2003) and "Die Anruferin" ("The Calling Game") (2007), which focuses on a woman caring for her dying mother who seeks psychological stability by making prank calls. "My protagonists aren’t classic, likable figures basking in a flawless mediocrity; they are broken characters who tend towards extremes."
This approach enabled Felix Randau to secure Beta Film as his first major partner, with the company organising funding over the subsequent years. Their international outlook aligned with his own vision: "It is totally feasible to work from Germany on co-productions with other European countries and funders. And that is the path I am pursuing."
As was clear during negotiations for the Kersten project, Randau sticks to his principles. "There are producers who make films aiming to win over the masses, although their personal tastes may be completely different. But that’s not my way. My films might not fill stadiums in Germany, but they do fill clubs – and not just here, but also in Stockholm, Copenhagen, or Istanbul."
This also means that he won’t churn out run-of-the-mill crime series just for the sake of the money. "That’s my decision – and it isn’t always an easy one – but it’s right for me." After all, he knows: "There is no recipe to guarantee that you will succeed. I refuse to believe in the 'formula for success' that so many people in the industry espouse."
Here, there is no doubt that he focuses on cinema: "99 percent of all series are just stretched-out feature films. It’s like pouring ten litres of water into goulash – suddenly, you’ve got goulash soup."
Naturally, he hopes to shorten the intervals between his films. He is currently developing an epic international project – for which the rights still need to be clarified – and a story centred on the theme of near-death experiences. These projects also reflect his credo: "You have to stay straightforward and true to yourself; otherwise, you end up being pigeonholed in a way that’s impossible to escape. You owe that responsibility, not least, to yourself."
Author: Rüdiger Sturm