The Free Will

The Free Will is a 2006 German drama film directed by Matthias Glasner. It premiered in competition at the 56th Berlin International Film Festival in February 2006 and was awarded two prizes: Jürgen Vogel received a Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Contribution and director Matthias Glasner received the Prize of the Guild of German Art House Cinemas. The film was also shown at various film festivals throughout 2006 and 2007, and Jürgen Vogel received Best Actor awards at Chicago International Film Festival and Tribeca Film Festival. Plot The frustrated kitchen helper Theo Stoer raped a young cyclist on the Baltic coast. He was arrested a few hours later. Because of this crime and two other rapes, the court sent him to a closed psychiatric institution for censorship. After nine years, Theo comes to a supervised shared apartment in Mülheim an der Ruhr on probation. Probation officer Sascha gives Theo a job in a print shop. In order to let off steam, Theo does strength training and a martial arts; he satisfies his sexual needs through masturbation. In everyday life, Theo finds it difficult on the one hand to control himself and to approach people. He is interested in a waitress at the Pizzeria Trattoria Funghi, but does not dare to speak to her. When Sascha encourages him, he manages to overcome his anxiety. However, she refuses the offer to go out with him.