Exil tells the story of a chemical engineer of foreign origin who feels discriminated and bullied at work, plunging him into an identity crisis.
Mišel Matičević
Xhafer
Sandra Hüller
Nora
Rainer Bock
Urs
Thomas Mraz
Manfred
Stephan Grossmann
Mr. Winkler
Uwe Preuss
Mr. Koch
Piet Fuchs
Mr. Apfelbaum
Daniel Sträßer
Georg
Konstantin Lindhorst
Mr. Steiner
Victoria Trauttmansdorff
Urs's Wife
Nicole Marischka
Valerie
Franziska Hartmann
Koch's Secretary
Sybille J. Schedwill
Mrs. Kraus
Corinna Kirchhoff
Mother-in-Law
Astrit Kabashi
Mr. Krasniqi
Moritz Heidelbach
Policeman
Nils Hohenhövel
Policeman
Susanne Bredehöft
Urs's Secretary
Flonja Kodheli
Hatiqe
Anna Lucia Gualano
Rosa
Ronja Frank
Emelie
Ben Malina
Baby
Julia Schmitt
Mrs. Todenhöfer
Getuart Hajrizaj
Hatiqe's Son
Ameli Kabashi
Hatiqe's Daughter
Mareile Blendl
Head Waitress
Valentina Dubovci
Bartender
Eshref Durmishi
Barkeeper
Salmi Youssef
Cleaner
Christian Skibinski
Student (uncredited)
Director, Writer
Visar Morina
December 1, 2020
7
Working at a corporate concern, Exile was instantly relatable. Of a man (from Kosovo) settled and working in a foreign land (Germany) and enduring torment at workplace possibly because of his origins, the film cuts through systemic, casual xenophobia and identity crisis. How the man struggles to stay sane as he is continuously bullied and made realize that he is a foreign national and not exactly welcome in the country. The onslaught of familial pressure (a wife and three kids) does not help as he spirals into chaos supported by overthinking and self pity. It's wonderful how the camera is often cranked from the perspective of the man; literally shot from behind his ears with a close-up of all the perspiration that he is experiencing while just trying to exist. There's not a single fun moment in Exile even if you see a smiling face or two. And that's the power of Exile: a tense drama both socially relevant and captivating, no matter where you are. **Grade B**.
(Watched at the 2020 European Union Film Festival of India (EUFF).)