Exclusive Interview with German Director Marc Rensing
Ever thought about watching a movie that deals with Parkour, the physical discipline of training in which the traceur has to overcome obstacles within his or her path? Well, German director Marc Rensing made a film that not only captures breathtaking Parkour scenes; the movie also tells a captivating story of friendship, love, and jealousy. The talented young German filmmaker takes the audience into a world of physical and psychological challenges that continue to heat up over the course of the film and end in a dramatic test of friendship.
Talking About PARKOUR
Parkour won 2 European film prizes and was selected as opening film at the 43. Hof International Film Festival. The Goethe Institute Los Angeles showed Marc Rensing’s film for the first time in the United States, and I had the chance to interview Marc after the screening. The interview (see video below) is in German. However, I translated Marc’s answers for all of you English speakers who are interested in what he has to say. Enjoy!
Nina Grenningloh: How did you get the idea for the movie?
Marc Rensing: I read a newspaper article that talked about three friends. Two of these friends ended up killing their leader in a very dramatic and terrible way after he became psychotic. It was a true story that took place over years. The leader threatened his buddies more and more over the course of the years until his friends were so scared of him that they executed him in the open street. I then thought about what could hold this friendship together and came up with the idea of Parkour.
NG: The film was initially produced for television. How did it make it into the cinema?
MR: The Hof International Film Festival selected Parkour as their opening film. We then won two prizes with the movie. After that, distributors became interested and started contacting us. The movie will come out in German cinemas on March 11.
Marc Rensing
NG: Any chances we will be able to see your movie on the International screen, for example here in the USA?
MR: We are currently working on that. It’s a little bit difficult though because no one wants to invest money right now due to the economic crisis. That’s a pity.
NG: You currently reside in Los Angeles as one of the fellows at the Villa Aurora. Are you working on new material?
MR: Yes, that’s right. I’m working on new stories, and I’m writing.
NG: How did you find your actors in Parkour. They’re all unknown faces in German cinema.
MR: I did not want to work with known actors because the audience would not believe that this person is really doing Parkour. I also intentionally wanted to work with fresh faces and up-and-coming actors and actresses because in Germany you often see the same artists on the screen, and that can get a bit boring. And I’m very happy that I found all of these amazing young actors - they were all great.
NG: Thank you, Marc!
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