Short, AT 2020, 14 min
Ingbert, the sock, applies for a position as double bass player at the Vienna State Orchestra. Bad idea.
Ingbert Socke (his name is quite telling), makes his first excursion into the human world. He takes part in a tryout for the position of double bass player in the Viennese Staatskapelle. Although his performance is received enthusiastically, the selection committee still has something against him. But what could it be?
It’s a bold script and concept that Henning Backhaus has developed together with Albert Meisl and Rafael Haider. In excellent style, they show not only how cleverly puppetry and film can be combined, but also who’s pulling the strings in this human world, why and for what (no spoiler: for their own purposes). A finely made, clever little film.
(Catalog Text Diagonale 2020)
Herrlich skurril und mit hintergründigem Witz.
(Saarbrücker Zeitung)
We think „The Best Orchestra in the World“ is an amazing absurdist take on discrimination. It is so subtle but still in your face. Done with a lot of tact and charm while presenting a serious topic.
(Jury Statement, Durham Region International Film Festival, Canada)
For the originality in telling, with disarming genuineness, the experience of being incredibly unique but inevitably different. All of this with a more realistic vision than ever of a cynical world! Thanks to an excellent cinematic technique that shows great attention to every detail, the audience gently slides into a drama disguised as a comedy by means of funny sketches and technically impeccable animated puppets. The audience expects, at any moment, some sort of social redemption that will never take place, leaving the amused viewer with something to think about.
(Jury Statement, Malatesta Short Film Festival, Italy)
Henning Backhaus‘ short film, THE BEST ORCHESTRA IN THE WORLD, is a metaphorical masterpiece and stands as a brilliant commentary on the social creation of truth, acceptance and discrimination. In the most skillful way, this short film not only brings viewers to laughter, but to also leaves them in quiet reflection about cycles of deceit across all levels of society exercises. Through an incredibly original approach with a sock puppet, audiences are struck by the high craftsmanship, the production value and, most importantly, are left thinking about the raw honestly of its message weeks later. An ABSOLUTE MUST WATCH!
(Blackbird Film Festival, New York)
Director’s Statement
„Die Tragödie überwindet die Distanz. Die Komödie schafft Distanz. Das Mittel nun, mit dem die Komödie Distanz schafft, ist der Einfall. Die Tragödie ist ohne Einfall.“
Diese Definition von Friedrich Dürrenmatt mag ich sehr! Ich bin ein großer Fan des jüdischen Humors, von Ernst Lubitsch bis Woody Allen. In „Das beste Orchester der Welt“ bemüht sich ein offensichtlicher Außenseiter um Teilhabe am System, wird vorne eingesogen und hinten ausgespuckt, tragisch eigentlich, aber eben auch die Geschichte einer Socke, und damit stecken wir tief in der Komödienmatrix. Es geht um fatale Lebensentscheidungen, das Gerangel von Deutungshoheiten und ums Chaos, das nur von der Lüge im Griff gehalten werden kann.
Das alles in schlanken 14 Minuten! Grundsätzlich liegt meine Sympathie eher bei der schrulligen Idee als bei der aufgeräumten Komfortzone. Ich denke, es ist menschlich, schrullig zu sein. Und meine Socke ist mindestens so menschlich wie ich.
(Henning Backhaus)
