One of These Days

In a small southern town in the US, twenty down-on-their-luck folks compete to win a brand new pick-up truck, a prize that might finally tip the scales of life in their favor. The annual 'Hands On' contest puts the vehicle literally within their reach – the winning contestant is the last one standing with their hands held firmly on the truck. Armed only with their dreams and determination, the participants forgo basic human needs to stand around the pickup truck for days to beat out their competitors. All for the benefit of an enthusiastic audience and the glare of the local media who turn up each year for the car dealership's popular publicity stunt. As the blisteringly hot days and long nights of struggle, exhaustion, mind games, hilarity, loss of control and insanity add up, only one winner can drive away with the truck. Each contestant has their own reasons for joining the contest, and as the hours tick by, their humanity is laid bare. Who will hold on and win – and at what cost?

Bastian Günther, born in Hachenburg on September 3rd 1974, graduated in 2006 from the German Film and Television Academy in Berlin. After winning the First Steps Award with ENDE EINER STRECKE (END OF A TRIP), his first feature film, AUTOPILOTEN (AUTOPILOTS), premiered at the 2007 Berlinale. His second feature film, HOUSTON, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, was screened afterwards on festivals worldwide. It won numerous awards and had its theatrical release in 2013. The essay film CALIFORNIA CITY was invited to the 2015’s Visions du Réel (Nyon) Competition. In fall 2015, it won the “National Gallery’s Price for filmart“ - followed by a 4-months exhibition. Bastian Günther lives in Berlin and in Austin, Texas.

FILMOGRAPHY:

2020 - ONE OF THESE DAYS
2015 - CALIFORNIA CITY
2013 - HOUSTON
2007 – AUTOPILOTS (AUTOPILOTEN)
2005 - END OF A TRIP (ENDE EINER STRECKE)