130. System Crasher (Systemsprenger); movie review

SYSTEM CRASHER (SYSTEMSPRENGER)
Cert 15
125 mins
BBFC advice: Contains very strong language, distressing scenes, strong threat, domestic abuse

The publicity material accompanying System Crasher claims that Nora Fingscheidt's very intense drama is 'acutely authentic'.
Both Mrs W and I were left to question whether that was the case. If so, it is a terrible condemnation of Germany's social services.
I was on the board of a local YMCA branch which deals with some of the most chaotic young people in our society.
I didn't even deal directly with the most difficult cases but had to go through safeguarding training which made it absolutely crystal clear of the professional distance which was needed.
This was particularly important when I was mentoring a young man from a very difficult family background.
It would have been easy to give him my phone number, pass him money or even meet up outside of prescribed hours to make sure he was ok.
But I knew the rules and I was only a voluntary helper.
The fact that this simple distancing flies out of the window during System Crasher is an unwanted distraction to what could have been a compelling movie.
Indeed, I should temper my ire with praise for a remarkable performance by 11-year-old Helena Zengel.
She plays nine-year-old Benni - an out-old-control girl who has already become what child protection services call a “system crasher”.
She may appear to be delicate but she kicks, punches, slaps and screams at a higher volume than any child I have ever met.
Her motivation is to be back with her mum (Lisa Hagmeister) but her life is too chaotic to try to cope with a daughter who has such extreme behaviour issues.
Meanwhile, pity falls upon her social worker ( Gabriela Maria Schmeide) who is trying her best to find a permanent placement for Benni.
Consequently, she hires an anger management trainer (Albrecht Schuch) as Benni’s school escort but this is where, in our opinion, System Crasher completely loses its way because professional boundaries are not only crossed, it is as if they have a bonfire set under them.
I understand Fingscheidt's aim of prompting to think differently about children such as Benni and question how the establishment and society handle them.
However, this film does those who work hard with young children few favours even though it probably intends to praise them.
I would be interesting to hear a children's worker's view but it seemed strangely out of kilter to us.

Reasons to watch; An important issue and wonderful performance by Helena Zengel
Reasons to avoid: The loss of professionalism is out of kilter with reality

Laughs: None
Jumps: None
Vomit: None
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 4.5/10

Did you know? Figures from Destatis, the German national statistics agency, showed that 77,645 children and young people were in state care in 2015/16. Of those, 53,300 children were placed in residential care or in another form of supported housing by youth welfare offices, this is 20 per cent up on the previous year and double the level in 2014.

The final word. Nora Fingscheidt: "I met Helena during our very first casting session. I thought I would never find a girl who could play this role and there she was. I thought she was amazing. She was the only one who could show this aggression, but there is something fragile about her, too." Cineuropa

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