Second Thoughts – First

German title: Mein Wenn und Aber
2021, 93 minutes - part III

SCREENINGS

THEATRICAL RELEASE IN AUSTRIA → Friday, December 30, 2022 via Polyfilm MORE ABOUT DATES AND VENUES → please go to "THEATRICAL RELEASE IN AUSTRIA" on this site

"NONFIKTIONALE" »

Theatrical Release in Austria

Friday, December 30, 2022

ABOUT THE FILM

To realise your dream, you need to know what you want.

Work and Love – how do they go together? And on top of that, having a child? In SECOND THOUGHTS FIRST, Marko Doringer uses humour and curiosity to explore the daily struggle for success, love and happiness.

Following HALF THE TIME OF MY LIFE and GLOBALLY YOURS, SECOND THOUGHTS – FIRST is the third part of a tetralogy in which Marko Doringer examines the realities of a generation in times of uncertainty. Ironic and analytical at the same time, this film is a feature documentary, a long-term research project turning at times into couples’ therapy – with wit and courage leading to astonishing self-realization.

 

FILM STILLS

FILM CONTENT

  • It’s now or never for a child, says Marlene, the partner of filmmaker Marko Doringer. This remark triggers many emotions in Marko, none of them positive. His job is anything but secure. He can’t even think about decent retirement. And on top of that, having a child? When, out of the blue, a protagonist calls to tell him she will drop out of his current project, Marko is on the verge of giving it all up. But who would he be without his profession? For despite his love-hate relationship with his work, it is and remains his identity. Is it even possible to have both – fulfilling work and a happy relationship?

    Marko visits friends, colleagues and his parents to find out how they deal with the fragile fabric of partnership, family and work. His generation is torn apart: On the one hand, they love their work. On the other hand, they fear not being able to do justice to their partners or children. Above all, they desperately want to avoid repeating the failings of their parents. Is there a magic formula for having a successful and happy life?

    Wolfram wants to build a career and at the same time starts a long-distance relationship with Eva. Does he have to choose between work and love? Shaheen works on projects all over the world, while Rukhsana stays in Germany, sorely missing him. Can things work out between them when their relationship always comes second? Catalina and Paul have a daughter, with a second child on the way. Will they be able to balance work and family? Meanwhile, Marko’s parents are enjoying their comfortable pension. Apparently they have done everything right in their lives.

    With empathy, persistence and humour, filmmaker Marko Doringer takes a close look at the emotional life of a generation struggling to find its way. Following (HALF) THE TIME OF MY LIFE and GLOBALLY YOURS, this is the third instalment of Doringer’s Austrian cult series: SECOND THOUGHTS –FIRST is a bitter-sweet film about the challenges of balancing work and love.

FURTHER INFORMATION

  • POSTER

  • FACTS

    GERMAN  TITLE:
    Mein Wenn und Aber

    COMPLETION:
    2021

    WORD PREMIERE:
    May 07, 2022 | DOK.fest Music | Germany

    LENGTH:
    93 minutes

    ORIGINAL LANGUAGE:
    German, English, Bengali

    VERSIONS:
    OmU Deutsch, OwS English

    DISTRIBUTOR:
    Austria: polyfilm

  • CREDITS

    with
    Catalina M. & Paul-Julien R.
    Rukhsana & Shaheen D.-R.
    Wolfram H. & Eva L.
    Etty & Heinz D.
    Marlene N., Marko D. & Elsa

    writer, director & camera: Marko Doringer
    assistant director: Stefan Pircher Verdorfer
    script consultant: Andres Veiel
    second camera: Joerg Burger
    sound: Tong Zhang a.o.
    editing: Daniel Flax, Marko Doringer

    music: Elsa Tootsie & the Mini Band,
              Les Hommes Sauvages
    sound design: Veronika Hlawatsch
    score mix: Nico Berthold
    studio for score mix: Victoria Studios
    re-recording mix: Bernhard Maisch
    studio re-recording mix: Tremens

    color grading: Klaus Pamminger
    title design: Mieke Ulfig
    social media: Mirela Jasic
    website: Gerhard Roider | roider.at

    commissioning editor: Susanne Spellitz | ORF
    producer: Marko Doringer | Filmfabrik

  • FEEDBACK

    Find audience feedback here:

    “Outstanding! A stroke of genius.”
    COMMENT / IN THEATRE

    “Thank you for this moving, outstanding film!”
    KAY

    “A really beautiful and enjoyable film!”
    LUCIA

    “We liked it a lot, what a terrific film!”
    DIANA

    “Great, congratulations!”
    THOMAS

    • “Ehrliches Leben ehrlich gefilmt. Auch das ist Kino. Großes sogar.”
      THOMAS

      „Authentisch, sympathisch – und trotz tw. schwieriger Situationen immer mit positivem Vibe.“
      ANGELIKA

      “Mein Wenn und Aber ist top!”
      ANNA

      “Sehr schön. Absolut gelungen!”
      LUCIA

      “Ein toller Film!”
      DIANA

      “Super. Gratulation!”
      THOMAS

      “So ein schönes Generationen-Portait. Danke! Wir haben es sehr gemocht!
      ISABELLA

  • FESTIVALS

    DOK.fest Munich ´22
    Germany

    Kino wie noch nie ´22
    Austria

    Fünf Seen Film Festival ´22
    Germany

  • REVIEWS

    Find media reviews here:

    “Simply riveting!”
    MARGRET KÖHLER/ AZ MÜNCHEN

    “Highly recommended! This film is radically subjective, tragicomic, and sometimes almost painfully honest.”
    SABINA ZEITHAMMER/ FALTER

    “The eagerly awaited third part of Marko Doringer’s film diary, which also takes a closer look at the big questions and the emotional make-up of an entire generation.”
    FLORIAN WIDEGGER/ FILMARCHIV

    “With typical Austrian humour.”
    KATJA KRAFT/ MÜNCHNER MERKUR

FEATURED MUSIC

MEIN HALBES LEBEN

Elsa Tootsie and The Mini Band
.            by Daniel Schatz, Artur Nutz
.            & Michael Prehofer
Les Hommes Sauvages
.           by Kristof Hahn (Swans)
Sultans of Gedankenbrain
          by Kristof Hahn (Swans)

INFOS & TICKETS

DATES

WORLD PREMIERE

May 07, 2022 | DOK.fest | Munich (Germany)

DOK.FEST MUNIC

May 07 & 13, 2022 | Munic (Germany)

KINO WIE NOCH NIE

July 15 & 16, 2022 | Augarten Open Air | Vienna (Austria)

FÜNF SEEN FILMFESTIVAL

September 03 & 04, 2022 | Starnberg (Germany)

IDFA docs for sale

November 11 to 16, 2022 | Amsterdam (The Netherlands)

Theatrical Release in Austria

Friday, December 30, 2022

PROJECT PARTNERS

funded by:

Austrian Film Institute
FISA – Film Industry Support Austria
Government of Lower Austria
Government of Salzburg

in cooperation with:

ORF Film/Fernseh-Abkommen

Austrian theatrical release supported by:
Austrian Film Institute

project development also supported by:

Filmfonds Vienna

FUNDING AGENCIES & PROJECT PARTNERS

alle Vorführungen samt anschließendem Filmgespräch mit Marko Doringer