Not as Life

The film follows hard rockers Burkhard, Florian, Ben, and Flo through two years full of ups and downs. The starting point for their very individual life paths is their band "Shoot Dolores," with which they plan to rock their way to the top. But everything turns out quite differently... a film about a rock band has become a film about life.

Being a rocker is a way of life far removed from regular daily routines and norms. This includes tattoos, piercings, tight pants, motorcycles, and unusual jobs for survival. But all these outward trappings only thinly conceal the sensitive musicians' souls, which are far more complex than the sandwiches they eat in the rehearsal room.

Some of their songs have the potential to be hits, but there are still many hurdles to overcome before they get there. The loss of their rehearsal space is the least of their problems; they soon find a vacant basement beneath a laundromat, where loud drum and electric guitar sounds mingle with the spinning of the spin dryers.

More serious are the artistic differences, which put the heterogeneous group of musicians to the test. Calculated strategies for success clash with a stubborn desire for artistic freedom. Rockers are, after all, also and above all, human beings – their diverse ideas, goals, and desires clash unchecked.

And what's even more serious – everyday life, with all its unexpected ups and downs, is no exception, even for hard rockers, making "Not Life" a multifaceted and emotionally touching film. Existential anxieties, strong father-son relationships, cancer, and unexpected babies take hold of the protagonists like forces of nature.

Fate reveals itself in people you wouldn't expect. "NOT LIFE" is a film about a band's dreams and the most unpredictable thing people face—life.

Premiere

World premiere

• 2011 at the Munich DOKFest in the Atelier-Kino

International premiere

• Solothurn Film Festival 2012, Landhaus Kino, Palace Cinema

Press reviews

"Not Life" is a documentary, and it takes a while to get to the point. But that seems to be part of the concept, as the process ultimately reflects the life perspectives of the film's protagonists. Things get even more intense in the final third...

... In the end, everything is once again different, and of course, the title, in its ambiguity, becomes even more polyvalent. This is a persistent documentary that relies on a cinema audience that stays seated and waits for the harvest to finally arrive. It's only partially suitable for TV. And for once, that's a good thing." - (Sennhauser Filmblog)

• Original title: Not Life
• Length: 63 minutes
• Format: 720p 50p Color
• Editing: Sabine Rodrian
• Director: Christine Repond
• Camera & Producer: Mathias Allary
• Recording format: DVCPRO HD (P2)
• Sound: 5.1 Surround
• Sound design: Jörg Elsner
• Sound mixing: Michael Hinreiner