Céline Roustan

We’ve all attended our fair share of weddings, and know how bustling they can get when the alcohol is flowing. However, I can confidently say that I’ve never been to a gather quite as chaotic as the one depicted in writer/director Rosa Friedrich’s short Topfpalmen (Potted Palm Trees). Overwhelming and incredibly engaging, the film feels like we’ve secured an rsvp to the raucous celebration, allowing us to witness its crazy energy firsthand, as if we were really there. I hope you’ve got your outfit ready!

The first scene introduces us to the madness of the event, and places Betti as the main protagonist in the story, with the perspective alternating between an omniscient point of view and hers, as the film unfolds. With the precise sound design portraying her hearing impairment perfectly, the camera movements and frame composition allow us, for brief moments, to live the wedding from her shoes.

Maresi Riegner (L) and Henny Reents as Betti and Romy

Those two perspectives paint the party very differently, but ultimately complement one another and help to amplify the excessive nature of the celebrations. While the omniscient perspective immerses us in the chaos, almost trapping us in it as if we can’t escape, when it switches to Betti, it completely changes as it comes with her backstory, as we see her deal with all the people in her life and her own pregnancy. Throughout the film, the level of detail in the production design is impressive. It exudes a super charged energy and immediately feels overwhelming, creating a unique blend of anxiety, mixed with a large dose of fun.

Visually the film is striking, with the heat and the alcohol palpable through the screen. Yet, in the midst of all that energy (and chickens eating dessert), some fascinating characters were actually penned. Their backstories are all complex and nuanced, without the film needing a manufactured or heavy handed exposition. We mostly understand their relationships, and their dynamics through their behavior at the party, which makes the film all the more engaging by prompting us to piece the elements together, almost like a puzzle.

The crazy wedding celebrations are in full flow

There is a perfect balance between comedy and drama in this film, and of course, an over the top wedding is the perfect canvas for a confrontation. While the entire cast impressively brings the party to life with authenticity, special recognition is due to the three main actors – Maresi Riegner, Henny Reents, and Lars Rudolph – for their standout performance. The trio excel in embodying the nuances of the screenplay and despite the insanity of the situation, they make it emotionally compelling, as we all want to root for Betti, while acknowledging the mother’s struggles. All the characters are so well written and performed, that as the film concludes you’re left with the lingering feeling that you’d rather stick around to see how they’ll all deal with the aftermath of the party. 

Ahead of its online premiere, Topfpalmen made its way around the festival circuit with notable stops in Karlovy Vary, Montreal’s FNC and Vienna’s VIS. The film was produced while Friedrich attended Filmakademie Wien and with this such a distinct and memorable short, we can’t wait to discover her new projects.