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Who is Afraid of God

Two teens go viral on YouTube after one of them wakes up with stigmata at a party and is declared a saint.

synopsis

Isolated from the modern world, Maria, a teenager, lives with her demented grandparents. One day, she accidentally crashes the 18th birthday party of rich kid Bella. Maria gets blind drunk and wakes up in Bella’s garden with mysterious wounds on her hands. While Maria remembers nothing, Bella, sensing an opportunity to revive her failing YouTube channel, posts a video claiming Maria’s wounds are divine stigmata. Soon Bella’s followers are on fire for Maria, the “chosen one”. A dubious friendship between the two unequal girls intensifies at dizzying speed. Maria tries to navigate her own way between successful online healings, holy merchandising, and funny Insta-Stories – but neither believes in God, nor in herself. When Maria understands that she is being exploited by Bella, Maria is overcome by a mystical vision that ultimately leads her to faith. She starts her own channel, “healing” followers 24/7, without sleeping, eating, or drinking. Her mania culminates in sacrifice: a jump from the roof that lands her in a mental hospital. Meanwhile, guilt-ridden Bella fights back for Maria, who is the only true friend she ever had in her fake online world. A final challenge between them – which may involve a miracle – will ultimately decide whether there is hope for real connection.

Director’statement

What is authenticity in a time where reality is more fragile than ever? Why are we focused on posting on social media before even really experiencing our lived reality? We want to make a teen movie, one we would have wished to see, set in the middle of a dazzling teen universe, but with profound themes, our own humour through a unique visual style. Bella and Maria live in fake worlds. Bella in a digital realm of pretend and Maria in a stagnant family fairy tale. As their story unfolds, they become increasingly trapped in their lies and learn that only truth endures. But what is true in a world where everything is created to appear real? As the lines between real and virtual blur, our protagonists grapple with the nature of faith. Because even though practicing religion seems to be going out of fashion, human desire to connect with something greater than ourselves is evident, especially among the young. Ultimately, our film underscores a message: it is important to maintain a genuine connection to oneself despite the simple illusions of the digital age.

TFL PROGRAMME:
ScriptLab 2023

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