Hormones, crushes, fears, bad decisions and arguments – being a teenager in Berlin isn’t easy! The headstrong Ricky, the eccentric Victoria, the melancholic Katharina, and the quiet Malou know this all too well – four flatmates, each grappling with growing up in their own way. Unfortunately, life doesn’t come with a user manual, but finding your way through it is much easier when you have friends by your side. Will they manage to convince each other that it's worth living, speaking, loving, being? Pure girl power!
Let this film take you to the threshold of adulthood, which we’re not ready to cross just yet!
»At some point, I grew tired of coming-of-age narratives. Katharina wants to take her own life before her 18th birthday, and the others also struggle with the adult world – so in a way, the whole film is a bit of a middle finger to it. /…/ Teenagers often have very intense emotional experiences, yet they’re taken less seriously. Early on, they’re told that their feelings are exaggerated or just a plea for attention. Honestly, between the ages of 14 and 18, I saw more serious problems in my surroundings than later in life: self-harm, eating disorders, suicidal thoughts... And yet, it was often overlooked, until it was too late. /…/ At the same time, it was important to me that the film should be humorous.«
– Stella Marie Markert
»While watching, I quickly realised that a perfectly drawn eyeliner won't help you at all if you're struggling with a sense of pointlessness in life, and that there's nothing glamorous about it. I think that's very important to emphasise in today's world, where we easily attribute a certain aesthetic to emotional instability.«
– Maja Žunič, 11th Kinotrip Young Programmer
»I was touched by the realistic portrayal of young people transitioning into adulthood, the lack of understanding surrounding mental health struggles, and the impact adults and the environment have on young people. Growing up is often portrayed through the eyes of older people, but here there is a particular focus on the young person’s perspective. The film also highlights the absurdity and potential dangers of taboos, and emphasises how important it is that we all have a voice.«
– Teja Bernik, 11th Kinotrip Young Programmer
»Intermixed with teenage apathy and social anarchy, Markert’s Thanks for Nothing is unapologetically brash, crass, heartbreaking, and uplifting — a hodgepodge of all the things that make adolescence hard regardless of time, place, class, or privilege.«
– Douglas Davison, Elements of madness
»With Thanks for Nothing, Stella Marie Markert delivers a refreshing, noteworthy directorial debut about four misfitted teens who refuse to blend into a world built on norms, rules, and narrow-mindedness. Amusing and unconventional from start to finish, this narrative stands as one of the strongest film debuts of the year, while also treating the challenging topic of mental illness with respect and seriousness.«
– Björn Schneider, Filmstarts