Wenn du Angst hast nimmst du dein Herz in den Mund und lächelst

Slowly, 12-year-old Anna and her deaf mum are starting to feel a bit cramped in their flat. It’s not just the lack of privacy that’s causing friction – Anna has just started secondary school and quickly realises what’s important now: brand-name clothes and a sense of belonging. She quickly gets hold of a fake Ralph Lauren jumper, but money’s still tight.

In her debut, director and author Marie Luise Lehner stages a confrontation with classist structures, which Anna tackles with a mixture of shame and grit. She finds an ally in Mara, who challenges others with feminist issues and who also lives alone with her queer father. Lehner stands by her heroes unconditionally, giving them space for introspection and outbursts, allowing them to row back and reconcile. Not fitting in allows them to get to know and appreciate who they are. Lehner flies the flag of solidarity, quite naturally and with plenty of references to pop culture. And closes with a liberating “Fuck you, Vienna”, high above the city’s rooftops. (Carolin Weidner)

Marie Luise Lehner was born in 1995 and lives in Vienna. A filmmaker, author, and punk musician. After studying at the Institut für Sprachkunst at the University of Applied Arts, she studied screenwriting at the Film Academy Vienna. She is pursuing master’s degrees in directing at the Film Academy and in contextual painting at the Academy of Fine Arts. She has written scripts, prose, and two novels. Her short films have been shown at various international film festivals and her literary works have received many prizes. Since 2012, she has caused a furore with her feminist punk band Schapka.

Director Marie Luise Lehner. Screenplay Marie Luise Lehner. Cinematography Simone Hart. Editing Jana Libnik, Joana Scrinzi, Alexandra Schneider. Music n n. Sound Design Lenja Gathmann. Sound Ines Vorreiter. Production Design Julia Libiseller, Gerald Freimuth. Costumes Marlene Pleyl. Make-Up Nora Conradi. Casting Martina Poel. Producers Katharina Posch, Michael Kitzberger, Wolfgang Widerhofer, Markus Glaser. Production company Nikolaus Geyrhalter Filmproduktion (Wien, Austria). With Siena Popović, Mariya Menner, Jessica Paar.

Films: 2016: Kaugummizigaretten / Candy Cigarettes. 2018: Geh Vau / Sexual Intercourse. 2020: Zwischenräume / Gaps. 2022: Mein Hosenschlitz ist offen. Wie mein Herz / The zip of my pants is open: Like my heart. 2023: Im Traum sind alle Quallen feucht / In their dreams all jellyfish are wet. 2025: Wenn du Angst hast nimmst du dein Herz in den Mund und lächelst / If You Are Afraid You Put Your Heart into Your Mouth and Smile.