DVD / FILM

Atmen/Breathing

19-year-old Roman Kogler has a chance to be released early from his young offenders’ institution. The odds are against him, however: he is an uncommunicative and solitary character without a family and doesn’t seem to be fit for re-socialization.
As a day-release prisoner he has a job at a funeral home. Of all things, it is this job dealing with death that shows him the path back to life.

Press Clippings:
Karl Markovics makes a very confident debut with this small but perfectly formed slice of stylized social realism.
The film achieves a lyrical beauty.
Audiences willing to hitch a ride should find themselves amply rewarded.
Charles Gant, VARIETY (US)

Spare, meditative and hauntingly eloquent, Austrian actor-turned-director Karl Markovics’ first feature is among the more promising debuts in Cannes.
A sober, compelling drama distinguished by its intelligent restraint, controlled visual style and a matter-of-fact observational approach that gives it bracing dramatic integrity, Breathing marks an assured move into directing for Karl Markovics.
David Rooney, HOLLYWOOD REPORTER (US)

A success.
C’est très réussi.
Bruno Icher, LIBERATION (France, Daily)

This is the first film of its director, Karl Markovics, a comedian who wanted to go behind the camera. That's done. Brilliantly.
Ce film est le premier de son réalisateur, Karl Markovics, un comédien qui voulait passer derrière la caméra. C’est chose faite. Avec brio.
Benoit Zagdoun, FRANCE 2.FR (France, Website)

A superb film.
Bénédicte Prot, CINEUROPA (EU, Website)


An extraordinary movie.
Karl Markovics (Ö.) manages to put his beautifully-shot debut movie on a level with the best Austrian movies of recent years - and with this year’s highlights of the Cannes Film Festival.
Lukas Traber, NISIMAZINE (EU, Daily in Cannes & Website)


Directed by
Karl Markovics

Cast
Thomas Schubert, Karin Lischka, Gerhard Liebmann, Georg Friedrich, Stefan Matousch, Georg Veitl, Klaus Rott, Luna Mijovic, Reinhold G. Moritz, Martin Oberhauser, Magdalena Kronschläger, David Oberkogler, Michael Duregger, , Peter Raffalt, Stefanie Taussig, Gabriela Schmoll, Elena Dörfler and many others.

Language: German
Subtitles: English, German for the hearing impaired
Total running time: 90 minutes (+ 129 min. bonus material)
Aspect ratio: 576i/25 PAL 16:9
Sound format: Dolby Digital 5.1 2.0
Region Code: 2