“Peacock”, interview with the director Bernhard Wenger

September 8, 2024

Bernhard Wenger, director, "Peacock". Matthias is the best in his agency of friends for hire, but the worst in his private life where he can't manage anything, and therefore succumbs to reality

"Peacock", interview with the director Bernhard Wenger Angelo Acerbi

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Bernhard Wenger‘s film “Peacock“, in competition at the Venice International Festival Critics’ Week, is an acidic, marauding comedy about appearing, adapting to please others, sacrificing one’s personality and losing oneself. The director talks with Fred Radio about it, form the inspiration to the meanings that he wanted to convey.

The European adaptation of a very common Japanese reality

Bernhard Wegner was inspired for “Peacock” by an encounter with a man working for a friend-rental agency in Japan, who suffered a personality disorder as he could no longer recognise himself amidst the thousands of personas he had to take on for work. From this tragic personal story comes the fierce satire of the film.

The protagonist’s life outside reality is also reflected in the aesthetics of the film

The aesthetic choice for the film that Bernhard Wenger decided on, together with his d.o.p., was that of hyper-realism and cold perfection, which the protagonist always carries within himself (so much so that he is inept and passive in his private life) and which he transports into the fictitious lives of his characters, so much that defines him forever.

Plot

Matthias is a master of his profession. Do you need a ‘cultured boyfriend’ to impress your friends? A ‘perfect son’ to influence your business partners’ opinion of you? Or maybe just a sparring partner to rehearse an argument? Whatever it is, just rent Matthias! While he excels at pretending to be someone else every day, just being himself is the real challenge.

Written by: Angelo Acerbi

Guest

Bernhard Wenger

Film

Peacock

Festival

Critics Week - Venice

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“Peacock”, interview with the director Bernhard Wenger

Bernhard Wenger, director, "Peacock". Matthias is the best in his agency of friends for hire, but the worst in his private life where he can't manage anything, and therefore succumbs to reality

The European adaptation of a very common Japanese reality

The protagonist’s life outside reality is also reflected in the aesthetics of the film

Plot

Channel posts

Interview avec Pascal Diot, directeur du Venice Production Bridge

“Boatbuilders”, interview with director Luke Lorentzen

Javier Bardem at the Rome Film Fest 2026: Lifetime Achievement Award to be presented by Paolo Sorrentino

“A Brief Encounter”, interview with director Liryc Dela Cruz

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