System Crasher 2020

The nine-year-old Bernadette, affectionately dubbed “Benni,” is a child marked by her aggressive behavior and a deep-seated sense of abandonment. Her struggles stem from a traumatic childhood experience that leaves her furious whenever her face is touched by anyone other than her mother. This deeply rooted issue prompts her peers to provoke her, leading to uncontrollable outbursts. Regrettably, her special school has repeatedly suspended her, unable to maintain order, and no foster family or group home seems capable of housing her for long periods. As a “system crasher,” Benni is at risk of slipping through the cracks of the German social support system designated for vulnerable children.

Benni’s sole desire is to reunite with her mother, Bianca, played by Lisa Hagmeister. However, Bianca, overwhelmed and fearful of her own daughter, struggles to provide the stability Benni so desperately needs. Living with an abusive partner named Jens, whom she cannot seem to leave, Bianca is also responsible for two younger children. In a particularly eye-opening moment, Benni runs away and hitches a ride home, where she finds her siblings unsupervised and engrossed in watching horror films. Displaying a nurturing side, Benni switches the channel to something more appropriate and prepares food for them. But this brief moment of care is shattered when Bianca returns with Jens. Although initially thrilled to see her mother, Benni’s joy turns to fury, leading her to attack both Jens and her mother with a vase, compelling Bianca to call the police. In a brutal turn of events, Jens retaliates, locking Benni in a wardrobe until help arrives.

In a bid to assist Benni, the earnest Frau Bafané, portrayed by Gabriela Maria Schmeide, engages an anger-management trainer named Michael Heller, played by Albrecht Schuch. An avid boxing fan who has experience with juvenile delinquents, Micha embarks on a journey with Benni to school. Following more episodes of violence, Micha proposes a unique approach: taking her to a rustic lodge in the woods, a setting he’d previously used for rehabilitating young offenders. Despite the unconventional nature of this “outdoor education,” Benni agrees, allowing Micha to connect with her on a deeper level. She begins to view him as a father figure, at one point even referring to him as “Papa.” However, Micha wisely refrains from encouraging this sentiment, knowing it could jeopardize their professional relationship.

As their time together draws to a close, Benni clings to Micha, yearning to remain with him, but he faces a dilemma. With his own family awaiting him at home, he contemplates discontinuing their sessions, but Frau Bafané persuades him to stay involved for the sake of Benni, who has so few allies in her life.

In a desperate move, Benni’s mother claims she has left Jens and wishes to bring Benni back. However, upon her arrival at a case meeting, the apprehensive Bianca reveals her fear of Benni and her desire to keep her away from her other children. Overwhelmed, she bolts from the meeting, leaving without a farewell, while Frau Bafané is left heartbroken as she has to break the news to Benni. In an ironic twist, Benni comforts Frau Bafané, not realizing the weight of her disappointment. A placement with a previous foster mother fails catastrophically when Benni injures a child who accidentally brushes against her face.

As a temporary solution, Benni is returned to her former emergency housing. The absence of specialized boarding facilities designed for children her age brings about discussions of sending her abroad to Kenya as a last resort. In a moment of desperation, Benni seeks refuge with Micha and his family, who generously offer her a temporary stay. One morning, while Micha’s family sleeps, she tenderly lifts their baby from his crib, feeding him breakfast with care. However, when the baby inadvertently touches her face, a previously suppressed rage threatens to resurface.

The situation escalates when Elli, portrayed by Maryam Zaree, the baby’s mother, attempts to take him back, triggering Benni’s aggressive behavior again. She locks herself in the bathroom, and when Micha forcibly intervenes to help, Benni manages to escape through a window, fleeing into the cold woods and losing herself in a whirlwind of confused dreams. Hours later, she is discovered in a hypothermic state and taken to the hospital.

Even as plans are made to send her to Kenya, Benni makes a final dash for freedom at the airport. The film concludes on a poignant note as we witness Benni leap into the air with a smile, signifying a fleeting moment of joy, before the scene freezes and shatters like broken glass, symbolizing the fragility of her circumstances and dreams.