The unintentional Kidnapping of Mrs. Elfriede Ott (2010) by Andreas Prochaska - Review

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by Andreas Prochaska

grade: 7.5

The unintentional Kidnapping of Mrs. Elfriede Ott, directed by Andreas Prochaska, is a well-written comedy that makes puns and proxemics its strong point, resulting in a timeless humour.

A replacement for granny

The Diagonale 2024 has just come to an end, but we decided to extend our stay in Graz, at least ideally. And to do so, why not talk about an authentic gem from a few years ago, filmed right in the Styrian Landeshauptstadt? The unintentional Kidnapping of Mrs. Elfriede Ott was indeed awarded twice, once at the Romy (film, screenplay and direction) and once at the Österreichischer Filmpreis (film, screenplay and music).

The film, shot by Andreas Prochaska in 2010, is a funny, well-written comedy that makes puns and proxemics its strong point, resulting in a touch of timeless humour. And no, this is not a coincidence: The unintentional Kidnapping of Mrs. Elfriede Ott tells of a hypothetical ‘accidental’ kidnapping of Elfriede Ott herself, doyenne of Austrian theatre and cinema, here in the role of herself, unfortunately in her last film role.

After a four-month holiday in Thailand, student Horst (Andreas Kiendl) returns to Graz to his flat, once shared with his grandmother, now deceased, who raised him after his parents passed away. Taking advantage of the assistance – including bank assistance – given to her when she was still alive, Horst finds himself sharing the flat with the wastrel Toni (Michael Ostrowski), looking for a worthwhile project between a Tanzcafé to run and a white limousine to rent, without really doing anything except continuing to illegally cash in on the deceased’s pension. Due to his long absence and Toni’s gullibility, the two discover that on the very day of Horst’s return, a local politician, accompanied by a photographer, will come by to wish a happy birthday to his grandmother, whom everyone believes is still alive.

What to do, then, but ‘borrow’ an elderly woman from the nearby hospital, coincidentally actress Elfriede Ott, hospitalised due to a fall while on stage? In an incredible carousel of surreal characters, from the unfaithful Karin (Monica Reyes), engaged to Horst but irresistibly attracted to his flatmate, to nurse Vroni (Angelika Niedetzky), nymphomaniac and engaged to Gerry (Gerhard Liebmann), car salesman and creditor of the ever-present troublemaker Toni, The unintentional Kidnapping of Mrs. Elfriede Ott is a potpourri of insanity, between brilliant nonsense and witty jokes. To complicate matters, Reinhard (Thomas Mraz), the paternalistic Ott’s succubus grandson, and Inspector Kramer (Simon Hatzl), Gerry’s school friend and not indifferent to the charms of the pretty nurse, also come into play.

Accompanied by the “new Viennese music” of the Kalksburg Kollegium, Andreas Prochaska’s comedy debut is a great acting performance by all the actors, who focused on gestures and the use of dialect, which was also useful to mark their different origins. But that’s not all: the feature film is above all a compendium of how a great film can be written, one that works in every respect, without being a Hollywood production. A little bit Coen Brothers, a little bit Guy Ritchie, the subplots and the many characters present are the real essence of the feature; the attention to detail and sharp jokes is essential in order not to miss any element, including the initial panorama of Graz.

As mentioned, The unintentional Kidnapping of Mrs. Elfriede Ott also marks the last film appearance of the legend Ott, who passed away in 2019, and here perfectly at ease in the celebration of the Austrian comedy of which she was a great performer until the very end. Laughing with her, according to Prochaska, was crucial for the harmony but above all for the success of the film. Michael Ostrowski, who plays Toni and co-wrote the screenplay, also declared: ‘we wanted to do something new’. Mission accomplished.