Written and directed by Stella Marie Markert, her first feature film Thanks for Nothing (Danke Für Nichts) is a stylish and impactful debut.  A dark comedy of sorts, Markert deals with issues of mental health with sensitivity as she follows the story of four girls living in group housing.  

Ricky (Safinaz Sattar), Victoria (Sonja Weißer) and Malou (Zoe Stein) have a problem.  Their roommate Katharina (Lea Drinda) has tried to take her life… again.  Katharina has ‘romantic’ ideas about death, and she has sworn she will end her life by the time she turns 18.  As that date approaches for all the girls, they have to come together to support one another through the emerging stressors of impending adulthood while trying to save Katharina from herself.  All of this happens under the terrible supervision of their social worker, Ballack (Jan Bülow).  

Markert weaves the stories of her characters throughout the feature with vignettes that show how each of them got to growing up in the social system.  Their parents and other adults in their lives failed them, abandoning them when the going got tough, or other opportunities presented themselves. These are presented in a somewhat whimsical way despite the heaviness of their situations.  But, it fits the overall feel of the film which also sees the actors breaking the fourth wall, mixing comedy amongst moments of intensity.

Overall, and keeping substantial themes in mind, Thanks for Nothing is optimistic in its approach.  Markert manages to navigate a world that has been cruel to these characters and yet you remain hopeful for them. It’s as if she knows that they have the power of friendship to help get them through the other side.