Breathing

In the austere outskirts of Vienna, a young man named Roman finds himself thrust into a stark rehabilitation program that pairs low‑pay work with the promise of a future beyond the walls of a juvenile detention center. The film opens on his reluctant entry into a series of menial jobs, each designed to test his willingness to follow rules he has long ignored. Among these, a placement at the city’s municipal mortuary becomes the unlikely backdrop for his tentative search for meaning, as the institution’s routine chores stand in sharp contrast to the turbulence of his past.

The world that surrounds Roman is rendered with a clinical precision that feels both oppressive and oddly beautiful. Gray corridors, relentless institutional cadence, and the quiet hum of machinery create a visual palette where every glance and gesture carries weight. The mortuary, with its solemn procession of bodies, is filmed in restrained, almost reverent tones, turning the act of handling the dead into a silent meditation on life’s fragility. The cinematography leans heavily on stark lighting and lingering shots, allowing the audience to feel the heavy stillness of the spaces while sensing an undercurrent of possibility.

Within this measured setting, Roman remains a figure of muted defiance, his isolation palpable yet slowly softening through subtle interactions. The film dwells on his internal shift—captured through nuanced facial expressions, the rhythm of his everyday tasks, and the rare moments when he allows himself to observe rather than withdraw. As he navigates the disciplined environment of the mortuary, a quiet curiosity begins to surface, hinting at an emerging sense of purpose. The story invites viewers to contemplate how a young man, once adrift in institutional routine, might discover a path toward acceptance and a tentative, hopeful new beginning.

Last Updated: October 07, 2025 at 13:29