The Latin phrase that gives the title to Antonin Svoboda’s film is a perfect summary of this story about an extraordinary woman who fights for her own release from past ghosts, which sleep but never quite die. A striking performance by Gerti Drassl, the Persona non grata herself, an Austrian #metoo heroine (whose narrative was inspired by the fate of Nicola Spieß, a Tyrolean ski champion and abuse victim whose testimony brought her ordeal into the open).
Andrea Weingartner (Drassl) formerly one of Austria’s brightest skiing talents and a member of its national team until she retired at 22 finds herself in a strange situation following her husband’s sudden death when a neighbor tries to attack her instead of comforting her in her moment of weakness. It’s the old wake-up call that turns mourning into breaking fragile peace opening Pandora’s box which Persona non Grata is.
For Weingartner was abused while with the national team, she was also underage and worse still knew there had been federation conspiracy silence over these incidents, It wasn’t just one case but systematic abuse supported veteran skiers because ‘it has always been like this’.
Andrea decided to tell Der Standard about it since Verband didn’t want talk about it with such reluctance on their part backing up being given what they needed from public perspective Oma Herta (Herta Wonschick), during talk show where representatives ski federation were supposed not misrepresent them says everything triggered by metoo worldwide with denunciation against.
Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein serving as catalyst- might have caused. She too used be champion even though remained silent whenever asked if anything happened all those years ago when still competing or training hard enough, seemed somehow easier let people think your life ended some point between giving birth Sara becoming journalist Thomas (Lukas Miko) comes across as someone who knows what he doing he does it very well indeed.
What’s more, mother-daughter relationship never recovered from moment daughter decided quit sport her parents had put so much hope into, same can said about Oma Herta relieved scream after hearing Andrea talk show designed do nothing but protect interests ski federation which knew will lead avalanche silence-breakers. And once started talking about fear silenced because they were scared themselves or others? They kept flowing in Persona non grata like there no tomorrow.
Persona Non Grata also marks the return of Antonin Svoboda behind the camera for the first time in almost a decade since “Three Eggs In A Glass” (2005). It is a triumphant comeback, if you ask me, as it is necessary for such timely and significant subject matter to be treated with care that does not involve excessive finger-pointing nor turn movie into Michael Moore style exposé documentary. The script puts us firmly on Andrea’s side without making us question anything she says we are made feel what she feels.
In this family drama, it is also a form of education and creation of the guidebook about handling that accusation by concentrating on the woman or rather women belonging to three generations whose truth prevails over silence prompted by omental as well as obedience towards institutional norms. The joy for being saved from fear, shame, guilt and inner struggle with oneself these things last for 90 minutes while watching Persona Non Grata plus many others.
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