Sponsored by: Wine Club Newcastle

Nine year old Helena Zengel is nothing short of a revelation, as she turns in a powerhouse performance as troubled victim-of-the-system Bernadette, or Benni, in Nora Fingscheidt’s explosive feature debut. Picking up awards hand over fist upon its release in her native Germany, this is bruising and brutal social cinema, but with a strong, powerful message at its core. It is spell-binding to watch such a convincing portrayal of infant distress, anger and aggression.

System Crasher is hugely rewarding – the editing, use of colour, remarkable soundtrack, and peerless performances all combine to deliver an unforgettable film of value, honesty and depth, primarily driven by the tremendous central performance of Zengel. Fingscheidt’s debut is unflinching in dealing with delicate social issues, and the result is refreshing and compassionate. A superb first film from this exciting new director.