Rimini: The existential search for happiness and meaning of a washed-up pop star in a supposed holiday paradise on the Adriatic Sea.
Film plot and background
The existential search for happiness and meaning of a washed-up hit star in a supposed holiday paradise on the Adriatic.
Once celebrated, now almost forgotten: pop star Richie Bravo (Michael Thomas) clings to a life of luxury, even though only bus tourists remember him. He spends the winter on the Adriatic coast in Rimini, creating a mood among the best agers with his dim hits of yesteryear. He relieves the senior citizens of their money with love services, which he then squanders on alcohol and gambling.
When his grown-up daughter (Tessa Göttlicher) comes to him with serious demands for money that she is entitled to after years of disinterest, the former pop star has to come to terms with his new reality. His Austrian homeland is in stark contrast to his persona on stage. While his mother died years ago, his father (Hans-Michael Rehberg) now lives in a retirement home. Plagued by dementia, he is caught up with his Nazi past.
“Rimini” – background, cast, cinema release
In the latest film by Ulrich Seidl (“Paradise” trilogy), the director draws the psychogram of a washed-up hit star who still lives in the past. Caught up in reality, the gigolo now has to face his mistakes and problems in life.
Seidl wrote the screenplay together with Veronika Franz. “Rimini” will celebrate its world premiere in competition at the Berlinale 2022, where it competed for the Golden Bear. It is already Seidl’s third film to premiere there.
Michael Thomas (“CopStories”) is in the leading role, Tessa Göttlicher in her debut role and the now deceased Hans-Michael Rehberg (“Schindler’s List”) in his last film role completes the film. The German theatrical release of “Rimini” is dated for 6 October 2022. An age rating has not yet been determined.
