Here and Now – 
The Films of Christoph Hochhäusler

Christoph Hochhäusler (b. 1972) holds a prominent position in 21st-century German cinema as a filmmaker and screenwriter. His films are always set in the here and now; they are contemporary cinema in both senses of the word. They explore current phenomena in aesthetically striking fashion, focusing on social and technological transformations as well as their impact on personal relationships. The present and its complex systems find formal expression in Hochhäusler’s work. His stories often revolve around lies and intrigue, manipulation and deception. Frequently located in the realm of genre cinema (film noir, crime thrillers, political thrillers, gangster films), they are also driven by betrayal, deceit and desire. They always convey the feeling that something is afoot, even if hardly anyone knows what’s really happening, while also placing cinematic reality and imagination side by side in such a way that they are not always clearly distinguishable. One unmistakable hallmark of Hochhäusler’s work is his particular focus on the exploration and visual representation of spaces and architecture. The settings are mostly urban—set in the worlds of politics, the media, or finance—yet his work also includes glimpses of provincial life. And Hochhäusler’s films are ultimately characterized by well-versed references to film history, without relinquishing their decidedly contemporary nature in the process.

To coincide with an exhibition at the Neuer Berliner Kunstverein (n.b.k.) (10.9. to 8.11.), Arsenal is presenting a retrospective of Christoph Hochhäusler’s films that starts September 3. It features three short films and seven feature-length films from the period 1998 to 2026. Almost all of them had their world premieres at the major international film festivals in Berlin, Cannes, or Locarno. The program will be accompanied by introductions by Esther Buss, Matthias Dell, Jan Künemund, Anne Küper and Sebastian Markt. We are very pleased that Christoph Hochhäusler will be joining us at Arsenal on the two opening nights for Q&As with the audience. (Birgit Kohler)

With the friendly support of the Neuer Berliner Kunstverein (n.b.k.).