9 Leben

In this film, Maria Speth (“Herr Bachmann und seine Klasse”, 2021) portrays several young people who decided very early on – often as early as 11, 12 or 13 years old – to leave home and live on the streets for a certain period of time or permanently: Sunny, Toni, Krümel, JJ, Stöpsel, Soja and Za – all of them individuals who could have already lived nine lives by now, including the mental and physical damage. But despite this destruction, there is an enormous amount of strength, talent and ability to be discovered in them. This wealth of personal possibilities is the focus of the film. The living conditions of the young people on the street are therefore not documented; they are told by them of their own free will. Or not. This is how very personal, stirring and touching testimonies come about. In order to focus on their personalities, they talk about their lives in a studio against a neutral background. Some have brought their musical instruments and play spontaneously, others show photos, still others artistic works. In this way, cinematic portraits emerge as in an exhibition, an art space. Prejudices and clichés about “bums” and “punks” dissolve. The young people become recognizable in their admirable uniqueness. And they become stars – and rightly so.