HUNDREDS OF BEAVERS (EIS IM JULI)

USA 2022, Feature Film, 108 min, FSK 12

Director: Mike Cheslik · No dialogue

Starring: Ryland Brickson, Cole Tews, Olivia Graves, Doug Mancheski

19th century, in the Midwestern United States: The adventurous apple brandy salesman Jean Kayak tries his luck as a fur trapper. Using ingenious traps, he catches vicious raccoons by the dozen. When he falls in love with a fur trader’s daughter, he’s tasked with delivering an unusual prize to her father: beavers. Preferably hundreds of them! Too bad the beavers are smarter than he is… This film “takes silly ideas seriously and, on a shoestring budget, makes the most of what’s possible through creativity and dedication.” (kino-zeit) became a surprise hit after its release and was immediately accorded cult status by an enthusiastic audience (including at the Leipzig FKM). The film takes what are essentially simple ideas and brings them to life in surprising and funny ways, with plenty of slapstick humor and references to early cinema history. While people are constantly slipping on the ice or running around in beaver costumes, it also tackles criticism of colonialism. It’s all kind of hard to describe, so it’s best to experience it for yourself.

19th-century American Midwest: The adventurous apple-brandy salesman Jean Kayak tries his luck as a fur trapper. When he falls in love with a fur trader’s daughter, he is tasked with delivering an unusual prize: beavers. Too bad the beavers turn out to be smarter than he is... Upon its release, this film became a surprise hit, immediately attaining cult status, so packed with silly slapstick humor and references to early cinematic history. While people are constantly slipping on the ice or running around in beaver costumes, the film also weaves in a critique of colonialism. It’s all rather difficult to describe—and therefore best experienced for yourself. (No dialogue, just mayhem)