"System Crasher" is an incredible movie. Words can barely describe how beautiful and yet simultaneously heartbreaking this film is.
"System Crasher" stars Helena Zengel as Benni, a 9-year-old girl who is stuck in the system, moving from one foster family to the next as her social worker tries her hardest to find her loving, permanent care. At first glance you'd think that something like that wouldn't be hard to do; after all, there are lists hundreds of names long, full of people who would be willing to foster a child such as Benni. However, Benni has one, tragic problem: her anger issues, stemming from her years of childhood abuse. Benni will lash out and explode at people, slinging profanities like toys at Christmas. And at first you might think a young girl cussing at people would be humorous to watch, but believe me, there's nothing funny about Benni's behavior, and never is it played for laughs. As the film continues, with every meltdown Benni has, you'll want to eventually shut off the television, not because this is a bad film, but because your heart will break for Benni. What initially seems like the lashing out of a problem child eventually turns into what it really is: the cries for help from a victim of abuse. And they never get any easier to stomach.
Helena is absolutely incredible in this movie, and there are times where you'll think that you're watching a documentary because of how raw and real her performance is. Without trying to sound too sentimental, you'll empathize with her so much that her happiness will become your happiness, and because of that, her sadness will be your sadness. Much like how one character in this film states of having "rescue fantasies" after spending time with Benni, you'll start to have those same fantasies as you wish you could crawl into the movie and just give her the love she so clearly needs. And as you learn what has happened to Benni, and more than that, what was allowed to happen to Benni, you'll want to punish those involved. Make no mistake, this is by no means an easy film to watch.
Now, I've seen certain reviews mention that Benni was "born evil," and I vehemently disagree. Because, from just one viewing of this movie, you'll understand that Benni's life has been an exercise in failure. From her family to the people who are hired to care for her to the system itself, Benni has been failed in various ways, by numerous people. And as you see people fail Benni, you'll see her, by her actions, fail herself, too. You see, it seems almost as if her abuse made her addicted to her self-destructive behavior as a coping mechanism, because no matter how good things seem or get, Benni will always act in a way that make things go back to the way they always were. And unfortunately, for many victims of abuse, that is reality; they try to find solace in the very behavior that is contributing to their destruction.
But as you see people fail Benni because of disregard or blatant abuse, things will seem to take a turn once she meets Michael, played by Albrecht Schuch. I do not want to get into specifics or spoilers of his role or the part he plays in this film, but I will say that his sequences with Benni are the most heartwarming, and heartbreaking, of the movie.
When the film comes to a close, I do think the ending will rub certain people the wrong way. It definitely left me wanting more, but I understand why the movie ended the way it did, and so I can't say it detracted from the overall quality or my personal enjoyment of the movie.
"System Crasher" is one of the best movies I've seen, and it's definitely one of the finer films on Netflix. If you have the stomach for it, I'd definitely recommend you watch this movie.
8/10
"System Crasher" stars Helena Zengel as Benni, a 9-year-old girl who is stuck in the system, moving from one foster family to the next as her social worker tries her hardest to find her loving, permanent care. At first glance you'd think that something like that wouldn't be hard to do; after all, there are lists hundreds of names long, full of people who would be willing to foster a child such as Benni. However, Benni has one, tragic problem: her anger issues, stemming from her years of childhood abuse. Benni will lash out and explode at people, slinging profanities like toys at Christmas. And at first you might think a young girl cussing at people would be humorous to watch, but believe me, there's nothing funny about Benni's behavior, and never is it played for laughs. As the film continues, with every meltdown Benni has, you'll want to eventually shut off the television, not because this is a bad film, but because your heart will break for Benni. What initially seems like the lashing out of a problem child eventually turns into what it really is: the cries for help from a victim of abuse. And they never get any easier to stomach.
Helena is absolutely incredible in this movie, and there are times where you'll think that you're watching a documentary because of how raw and real her performance is. Without trying to sound too sentimental, you'll empathize with her so much that her happiness will become your happiness, and because of that, her sadness will be your sadness. Much like how one character in this film states of having "rescue fantasies" after spending time with Benni, you'll start to have those same fantasies as you wish you could crawl into the movie and just give her the love she so clearly needs. And as you learn what has happened to Benni, and more than that, what was allowed to happen to Benni, you'll want to punish those involved. Make no mistake, this is by no means an easy film to watch.
Now, I've seen certain reviews mention that Benni was "born evil," and I vehemently disagree. Because, from just one viewing of this movie, you'll understand that Benni's life has been an exercise in failure. From her family to the people who are hired to care for her to the system itself, Benni has been failed in various ways, by numerous people. And as you see people fail Benni, you'll see her, by her actions, fail herself, too. You see, it seems almost as if her abuse made her addicted to her self-destructive behavior as a coping mechanism, because no matter how good things seem or get, Benni will always act in a way that make things go back to the way they always were. And unfortunately, for many victims of abuse, that is reality; they try to find solace in the very behavior that is contributing to their destruction.
But as you see people fail Benni because of disregard or blatant abuse, things will seem to take a turn once she meets Michael, played by Albrecht Schuch. I do not want to get into specifics or spoilers of his role or the part he plays in this film, but I will say that his sequences with Benni are the most heartwarming, and heartbreaking, of the movie.
When the film comes to a close, I do think the ending will rub certain people the wrong way. It definitely left me wanting more, but I understand why the movie ended the way it did, and so I can't say it detracted from the overall quality or my personal enjoyment of the movie.
"System Crasher" is one of the best movies I've seen, and it's definitely one of the finer films on Netflix. If you have the stomach for it, I'd definitely recommend you watch this movie.
8/10