WRITER & DIRECTOR
Mehmet Akif Büyükatalay
Oray

STARS
Devrim Lingnau, Mehdi Meskar, Serkan Kaya, Nicolette Krebitz, Aziz Çapkurt and Nazmi Kirik

Sacred text are not the only writings that have been incinerated in this promising but puzzling and patchy German dramatic thriller.

A small group of cast and crew working their final days on a film that chronicles a fatal and racist fire attack that happened 30 years earlier make an unsettling discovery on set. A copy of the Qur’an has been burned by someone, triggering significant backlash from some of the extras, namely Majid (Nazmi Kirik), Mustafa (Aziz Çapkurt) and Said (Mehdi Meskar). While this places the completion and premier of director Yigit (Serkan Kaya) and producer Lilith’s (Nicolette Krebitz) film in serious jeopardy, it is 2nd assistant director, Elif (Devrim Lingnau) who gets caught up in a series of spiralling events.

I do not ordinarily like to use the word ‘interesting’ when describing a film, for it is such a loose term with ambiguous meaning that can both compliment and condemn. Yet it seems just the right word for both reasons and in numerous ways to describe this one. 

Its premise, several developments throughout, potential themes to derive and explore and a few intense moments definitely keep Hysteria interesting in a complimentary way. As consistent as its ability to intrigue and keep viewers guessing is, so too is the unclear writing and cluttered directing, from which it never truly shakes away. This is partially what makes the film interesting in a less complimentary manner. For instance, several of the characters ostensibly keep secrets from each other. Courtesy of spending the majority of our time in the company of Elif, we are privy to some of the secrets she is keeping from her colleagues. This is where much of Hysteria’s intrigue is generated. But when spending time developing or attempting to connect and reveal secrets of others alongside Elif’s, as well as their intent and motivation for doing so, that is where Hysteria faulters. An incredibly over-the-top finish leaves us with a confusing mess to try and mop up. For a film choosing the subject matter it does, I also believe its inability to be consistently clear results in it not properly exploring a theme or two that could have given the film’s finale a defining edge. 

Hysteria is showing in selected cinemas across Australia from May 2nd – May 21st as part of the HSBC German Film Festival 2025.

Moviedoc thanks Palace, HSBC German Film Festival and Miranda Brown Publicity for the invitation to the screening of this film.

Review by Leigh for Moviedoc

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