Berlin Film Fest: 'London' Explores Stranger Encounters

Set to world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival's Panorama program, the film 'London' is described as a blend of documentary and fiction. Austrian director Sebastian Brameshuber meticulously recreated the experience of long car rides in a studio setting to foster authentic conversations between strangers.

The film centers on Bobby, portrayed by Bobby Sommer, who drives a car-sharing service along the Austrian highway connecting Vienna and Salzburg. He encounters diverse passengers, including a young man facing mandatory military service, a queer woman on the verge of marriage, a supermarket trainee, and an academic.

These interactions are designed to offer insights into Bobby's life, his past, and his motivations, including a friend in Salzburg. The A1 motorway, also known as the Westautobahn, featured in the film, carries a complex history, having been designed by Nazis for picturesque views, a theme that resonates with Brameshuber's interest in historically charged locations.

Director Brameshuber was inspired by his own past experiences with car-sharing between Vienna and Berlin. He found the atmosphere and quality of conversation unique when sharing a long journey with a stranger, looking forward while conversing. He cast Sommer due to his resemblance to a character in the film 'Two-Lane Blacktop.'

The film's title, 'London,' chosen near completion, evokes a sense of freedom and mental geography, referencing Bobby's past connection to the city. The movie was in development for approximately 12 years before its release.