The Ground Beneath My Feet

The Ground Beneath My Feet

Der Boden unter den Füßen
Directed by Marie Kreutzer
Austria | 2019 | Narrative
108 minutes | English & German

In Marie Kreutzer’s taut psychological thriller — a close cousin to “Repulsion” — Lola (Valerie Pachner) manages her personal life with the same ruthless efficiency she uses to succeed in the business world. Not only does she keep her relationship with boss Elise a secret, Lola also hides the existence of older sister Conny, who has a long history of mental illness. But when Lola receives the news that Conny has attempted suicide, her secrets begin to surface and affect the workplace. As she tries to do what’s best for her sister without jeopardizing her hard-won career, Lola slowly finds her own grip on reality slipping away. The New York Times writes: “While it sometimes dons the characteristics of a psychological thriller, ‘Ground’ eventually unfolds a powerful, metaphor-driven fable, one full of sorrow and anger about the way we live now. This is crafty, first-rank filmmaking.”