EastWest Filmdistribution present

EastWest Filmdistribution present
Once you‘re in, can you ever get out?
Based on true events
Combat Girls
Directed and Written by David Wnendt
Produced by Eva-Marie Martens, Alexander Martens & René Frotscher
Cast
MARISA Alina Levshin
SVENJA Jella Haase
RASUL Sayed Ahmad Wasil Mrowat
SANDRO
Gerdy Zint
MARKUS
Lukas Steltner
OLIVER Uwe Preuss
ANDREAWinnie Böwe
BEARosa Enskat
CLEMENS Haymon Maria Buttinger
GROSSVATER FRANZ
Klaus Manchen
Germany 2011; Drama; original title “Kriegerin”; 35mm; aspect ratio 1:2,35; Dolby SRD; original
language German; available with English subtitles
Synopsis
Marisa, a 20-year-old German girl, hates foreigners, Jews, cops, and everyone she finds guilty
for the decline of her country. She provokes, drinks, fights and her next tattoo will be a portrait
of Adolf Hitler. The only place she feels home is the Neo-Nazi gang she belongs to, where
hate, violence, and heavy parties are the daily rules. When 14-year-old Svenja joins the group,
Marisa appears like a role model to her: she fits the purest idea of a combat girl fighting for the
group’s ideology. But Marisa’s convictions will slowly evolve when she accidentally meets a
young Afghan refugee. Confronted to him, she will learn that the black and white principles of
her gang are not the only way. Will Marisa ever be able to get out of this group?
Director:
David Wnendt
David Wnendt was born in 1977 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. He grew up in Islamabad, Miami,
Brussels, Prague and Meckenheim. After graduating from high school he worked in numerous television, film and theater productions as intern, assistant director, gaffer, set runner and
production assistant. He has a degree in Communication and Business Administration from the
Free University in Berlin. In Prague he took film classes at the FAMU and then studied directing
at the Film and Television University “Konrad Wolf” in Babelsberg. “Combat Girls” is his final
project for the Film and Television University.
SELECTIVE FILMOGRAPHVY
2000
2006
2007
2008
Hanging On, short film
Hannas Hobby, short documentary
California Dreams, short film
Kleine Lichter
Motivation
“In summer 1998 I was working on a photo project in East-Germany. Travelling through the
countryside I met many teenagers that could be identified based on their clothes as being
Neo-Nazis. It surprised me to find many girls among them. As I talked to them they shared their
world view and their wild political opinions. All of them identified foreigners as being the biggest problem of their lives and of Germany in general. After these encounters I started to do
more research on the subject of fascist girls. It was an aspect of the Neo-Nazi scene that no
one was paying attention to. I began considering this material into the script of ‘Combat Girls’.
‘Combat Girls’ is a realistic, uncompromising depiction that avoids the stereotypes that are
often presented in films about the Neo-Nazi scene. It explores the reasons and motivations
that drive young girls into the arms of extremist damagogues.”
David Wnendt
The Research
The movie and all his characters are based on true events. Director and author David Wnendt
invested two years in monitoring the scene and conducting guided interviews with young
women involved in the right-wing milieu. He spend some quality time with cliques and teens
in Lübben, Forst, Preschen and several other places to get to find understanding and to get
familiar with their believes. He visited right-wing demonstrations and studied the relevant
literature. That was the raw material for the script. In the writing process the story and the
characters were developed and the result is an enthralling Coming-of-Age Drama with more
than just a touch of reality.
Reality
Since World War II there have been several movements in the Nazi or Neo-Nazi scene. Considering the Eurobarometer on Discrimination in 2009 it turns out that “racial discrimination on
ethnic grounds is considered the most widespread from discrimination, with 61% respondents
perceiving it to be so.[…] To different degrees, across different countries, Roma, migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, Muslims and Jews continued to be the groups most widely susceptible to discrimination and racism.” (cf. Gauci, Shadow Report 2009/2010 - European Network
Against Racism, p. 3)
Discrimination happens not only in one way. There are several fields like employment, education, housing, healthcare, media and violence and crime where people are not treated like human beings. It happens next door, on the bus or sometimes in the circle of your friends. There is
need to talk about this topic and at least try to raise awareness.
According to scientific reports racist violence and hate speeches are not rare in Europe. One
manifestation of this kind of crime is anti-Semitism. In some European countries – like Italy –
these messages are expressed in media. “Wall graffiti (often accompanied by swastikas and
crosses) made up the bulk of the incidents. Many messages praised Hitler and the extermination of the Jews. Moreover, the report noted a slight increase in incidents of Jews being
targeted as individuals, such as graffiti on the walls of houses and business owned by Jews.”
(Gauci, Shadow Report 2009/2010 - European Network Against Racism, p. 18)
Neo-Nazi crimes are reported over Europe, for instance in Latvia, Lithuania and the Netherlands.
“A key issue regarding racist violence is the way these incidents are addressed by national authorities. Across the EU, and in line with the relevant Framework Decision on Combating Racism and Xenophobia, there are a range of laws intended to address some of the various facets
of racist violence and crime.” (Gauci, Shadow Report 2009/2010 - European Network Against
Racism, p. 18) Two types of law has been intended, first the criminalisation of incitement to
racial violence and crime and the specific addressing of racial motivation in other crimes – for
example crimes against the person and property.
However, most reports describe these methods as insufficient and ineffective. Racist violence
and crime still remains under-reported, under-recorded and under-prosecuted. Hard to execute
is the online violence, because extremists websites are hosted by US servers making it impossible for national authorities to take action. The media is getting more and more conventional.
The internet is a “space for the proliferation of racist speech. […] A key issue raised is the use
of social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter.” (Gauci, Shadow Report 2009/2010
European - Network Against Racism, p.21)
The Neo-Nazis as a criminal organisation are very active in Europe, not just in walking their
talks, but also in recruiting new members. Most of them are kids searching for orientation, affiliation and fellowship. Music and Internet are the two main media the Neo-Nazi scene has to
find new victims. There are several platforms, forums, online-shops, games and even datingpages those people are prosecuting. Young people want to belong to something, to have fun,
most of them are not even political. A good introduction to the organisation is at concerts. It is
entertaining and the mass is affecting the kids – some of them are not even 13 years old. There
are national bands – in Germany statistics talk about 150 all together – that are well known
like Lander, Zyklon B, Kommando Freisler, Blitzkrieg etc. The lyrics transport hate, racism, antiSemitism; they glorify or call to violence. The styles vary from right-wing rock to National Socialism Black Metal and Dark Wave.
Once in the gang, there are several codes in clothing and tattoos to consider. Lonsdale is a
brand members of Neo-Nazi gangs prefer. If you carry a jacket over the shirt with the brand
name you can cover the LO and LE at the beginning and end. The leftover is NSDA, which was
the short cut for Hitler’s party. Some members are tattooed with special signs.
88 stands for the 8th letter in the alphabet, in this case 88 would mean Heil Hitler, which was
the greeting under Hitler.
14 stands for AD which means Aryan Defence
14 words stands for the sentence: “We must secure the existence of our people and a future
for White children” or “Because the beauty of the White Aryan women must not perish from
the earth.” (HYPERLINK “http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aryan_race”) Both slogans were coined
by David Lane, a member of the separatist organization ‘The Order’. (HYPERLINK “http://
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Lane_(white_nationalist)”)
Combat 18 stands for Adolf Hitler’s Fight.
The groups are creative and active in inventing new styles and signs. Over the years there have
been some separations in the culture of the Neo-Nazi world as well. First they were known
as Skinheads with shaved heads, combat boots (boondockers) and bomber jacket. Ideology
matters to these people, they orient themselves on the historical National Socialism and are
organized in small groups called “camaraderie”. Later a right-wing subculture was developed.
These were “normal” looking teens and it was impossible to recognize them on first sight not
like the Skinheads. Some of them are not interested in politics, but the lifestyle matters to them.
Since 2003 there is a new trend in the Neo-Nazi corner: Autonomic Nationalist. Mostly they
look like the aggressive left-wing autonomist, which means hoody, baseball cap and Kaffiyeh
(Palestinian headdress). Action matter to them!
What all groups have in common is their music, which is how they finance the organization
throughout Europe and the denial of the historical facts. One exmple for holocaust denial is the
Leuchter Report/Wilhelm Stäglich: Der Auschwitz Mythos. Legenen oder Wahrheit? People not
believing in the holocaust are more active on the internet. There is a website trying to prove
that historical facts are different, they even say to have scientific explanations. (Historical Revisionism: HYPERLINK “http://www.vho.org/” http://www.vho.org/) The Holocaust denial in this
case is explicitly illegal in 14 countries worldwide: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France,
Germany, Israel, Lichtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain and
Switzerland.
One can say that Neo-Nazis are benefiting from the EU. They can chose the country with the
lowest security standard and organize their gatherings without obstacles. Germany for exam-
ple has a law which forbids the public use of the Nazi-Swastika. Other European countries as
Denmark for instance do not have any laws against Nazi-symbols. During the German Presidency of the European Council in spring 2007, Germany tried to make the use of the Nazi-Swastika
illegal in the whole EU. Considering the fact that the symbol also has a traditional meaning for
the Hindus, this plan had to be cancelled.
European citizens are not aware of the danger coming with such ideas as the Neo-Nazis have.
The awareness of this social problem has to be spread around the globe. Combat Girls is a good
start to also and especially reach the young audience, showing them that evil wins if the good
rests!
Alina Levshin (Marisa)
A undiscovered talent, fluent in German, Russian and American English, loves horseriding, swordplay, dancing and plays the piano. She couldn’t be more different to Marisa.
Born in 1984 in Odessa she lives now in Berlin. Alina visited the Academy for Film and
TV Konrad Wolf in Potsdam. In 2009 she was nominated by the press in the category
most talented actress. She also got the ensemble prize for “Lügengespinst” directed
by Lukas Langhoff at the theatre meeting in Zurich.
Filmography
2010 Ein Fall für wei: Leichen im Keller by Christoph Eichhorn
TV-series
2010
Davon willst du nichts wissen by Tim Trachte
TV-film
2009
Topper gibt nicht auf by Félix Koch
Film – HFF
2008
Im Angesicht des Verbrechens by Dominik Graf
TV-Film
2008
Rosa Roth – Das Mädchen aus der Army by Carlo Rola
TV-Film
2007
Spätsommer by Stepan Altrichter
Short Film
2006
Vier Szenen by Laura Lazzarin
Short Film
Filmography
Theaters
2009
2008
Egoshooter by Mingus Ballhaus
Short Film
Der letzte Rest by Jens Wischnewski
Short Film
TV
Jella Haase (Svenja)
A untouched talent, young and creative. Music is an important part of her life, she plays
the guitar. Jella is fluent in English and French and of course in German, living in Berlin. Besides acting Jella loves sports like football, figure skating and horseriding. Shes
been in front of the camera since 2004 and has already worked with several German
directors.
2010
Alpha 07 by Marc Rensing
Mein Land by Florian Kern
Friedenau by Ziska Riemann
2009 Polizeiruf 110 – Einer von uns by Eoin Moore
Meine verrückte Familie by Christiane Balthasar
Liebe in anderen Umständen by Hans Jörg Thun
Polizeiruf 110 – Tod im Atelier by Torsten Näter
2008
Mama kommt by Isabell Kleefeld
Klaus Manchen (Grandfather)
1984Bockhorn
Born in 1936 in Breslau (now Wroclaw / Poland) he is an experienced German actor
on stage and screen. His education career began in Berlin at the public drama school
today’s academy for acting “Ernst Busch”. Manchen worked with directors like Konrad
Wolf “I was Nineteen” (1968) and Max Färberböck “Aimée & Jaguar” (1999). From
1965 to 2002 he was member of the ensembe of the Maxim-Gorki-Theater. Now he is
working as a freelance actor, trying different things, like lending his voice to a farmer in
Michael Haneke “The White Ribbon” (2009).
1989
Barbaron
2006
Balko TV series
2008
In aller Freundschaft
Selective Filmography
1968
Ich war neunzen
1968
Die Toten bleiben jung
1970Netzwerk
1972
Der Dritte
1973
Erziehung vor Verdun. Der großeKrieg der weißen Männer
1974
Die eigene Haut
1982
Das große Abenteuer des Kaspar Schmeck
TV movie
TV series
TV movie
TV movie
2009 Soko 5113
TV series
2010
TatortTV series
2010 Der Alte
TV series
2011 Polizeiruf 110
TV series
2011 Soko Leipzig
TV series
2011 Willkommen in Kölleda
TV movie
AWARDED AT FILM FESTIVAL MUNICH
Alina Levshin
„What a performance: when Alina Levshin appears on screen, everything seems to be clear
after five minutes. Seems to … because what happens in the role of Marisa and consenquently
in her face, in her language and body language, is literally breathtaking.
You can’t get enough of Alina Levshin and the whole ensemble. Alina Levshin is a promise for
German cinema.”
David Wnendt
„”Combat Girls” starts with a disconcerting act of violence and shows from this point of view
sophisticated, authentic and nuanced characters. The film keeps all its promises until the very
end. David Falco Wnendt polishes his brilliant script with his excellent direction. Extreme courage, no clichés and the young actors make “Combat Girls” in every aspect to an event.”
Presss Voices
„David F. Wnendts „Combat Girls“ caused quite a stir. Alina Levshin from Odessa mimes in this
good investigated Neonazi-drama the hateful supermarket cashier Marisa, somewhere in eastern Germany. By listening to songs called “holocaust reloaded” she and her friends try to get in
the right mood for acts of violence. But then the ideological assurance fades. “Combat Girls” is
a bold, authentic film.” (Katrin Hillgruber, Der Tagesspiegel)
“Combat Girl is not the sort of film, the audience feels immediately sympathy for . Even the milieu in which his main character - a young woman of 20 - is involved, seems unappetizing. The
social drama set in the Neo-Nazi scene of some small city somewhere in Germany. From [the
Filmfest] Munich it feels so far away, as if there is still an iron curtain between. Director and
writer David Falko Wnendt takes a close look at the world of rune-tattooed skinheads and their
lives. It would be missleading to say, that the images are authentic, but Wnendt knows how to
draw a picture of the sub-hatred (anti-) culture.” - Süddeutsche
Credits
Director & Writer
David Wnendt
EditorAndreas Wodraschke
Line Producer
Sophie Stäglich
Director of Photography Jonas Schmager
Production Design
Jenny Roesler
Costume Design
Nicole Hutmacher
Make Up
Jana Schulze
Production Company
Mafilm Gmbh
Producers
Eva-Marie Martens, Alexander Martens, René Frotscher
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