User reviews

Kristina Schippling's short films are courageous art. She tells of dysfunctional love relationships from which the protagonists cannot break free. Kristina finds metaphorical images and places for her films, like a lift that descends endlessly and seems like a prison cell from which there is no escape. But when the door opens, no one gets out. The hopelessness and the inability to get out of the relationship are inside the protagonists.

The film is divided into two halves. One linguistic and one non-linguistic. The first attempt at a linguistic approach fails. The second attempt, to approach physically, almost succeeds. Nevertheless, the fear is too intensive to make any real attempts at rapprochement. The togetherness is lost again. Is it the bond that holds them together? Are they holding on to their past? Is it the fear of something unknown and new that makes them both stay in the lift? Or the fear of being all alone? The title is taken up by the male character. He says he is afraid a rat will come up from the toilet and bite him. The rat is therefore the woman. It's a tormenting bond that can't be broken, but also doesn't work.

Kristina's short films leave room for interpretation, they are characterised by a clarity and openness and at the same time by a depth. They are philosophical jewels that you can watch again and again and that invite you to reflect, to investigate.