The Gstetten Saga: The Rise of Echsenfriedl (2014) Die Gstettensaga: The Rise of Echsenfriedl

Director: Johannes Grenzfurthner
Writers: Johannes Grenzfurthner, Roland Gratzer
Stars: Stuart Freeman, Sophia Grabner, Lukas Tagwerker

The growing tension between the last two remaining superpowers -­ China and Google -­ escalates in the early 21st century, and results in the global inferno of the "Google Wars". But the years go by, radioactive dust settles on old battlegrounds, and a New World rises from the ashes of the old. Fratt Aigner, a seedy journalist, and Alalia Grundschober, a nerdy technician, live and work in Mega City Schwechat: the biggest semi-urban sprawl in the foothills of what remained of the Alps. Newspaper mogul Thurnher von Pjölk assigns them a special task: to venture into the boondocks of the Gstetten and find the legendary Echsenfriedl. It is the beginning of a journey full of dangers, creatures and precarious working conditions.

This brilliant piece of insanity shows off a potential post-apocalyptic world like you have never seen before. Savage farmers, militarized postal workers and more fantastic characters and brilliant subplots than you can shave an antenna at.

The protagonists are just strange and broken enough to be relatable, the acting is fantastic considering the no-budget state of the movie, and the chosen locations just scream wasteland. Even if you don't get the tons of high-brow in-jokes, it's a lot of fun to watch this unique story unfold.

Highly recommended.

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