22 August 2025  Identity in focusAustria's official submission for the 98th Academy Awards, which will take place in March 2026 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, is Pfau – Bin ich echt? (Peacock). The social satire directed by Bernhard Wenger was announced this week as Austria's candidate for the category Best International Feature Film.Although the film is not about fashion, its theme—identity, vanity, and authenticity—touches on a phenomenon familiar in style culture: the risk of losing oneself in external roles and superficial trends. Just as clothes can define how people are perceived, Peacock reflects on the performance of identity and the thin line between outer representation and inner truth. A title with double meaningIn German, Pfau – Bin ich echt? carries layered connotations. The peacock (Pfau) traditionally symbolizes beauty, vanity, and display—impressive on the outside but limited in its abilities. The film's director and screenwriter Bernhard Wenger explained in an interview with Karin Schiefer for Austrian Films (a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting Austrian cinema abroad):"The peacock is an animal that can do little besides being beautiful. Peacocks neither fly well nor much. They emit a terrible cry. Metaphorically, it stands for Matthias, who is very good at representing, but beneath the surface there is little else. Especially little that is real." Beyond this metaphor, some readers may also notice a playful cultural twist: in Austrian German, the pronunciation of Pfau can resemble the exclamation wow. While not an officially promoted interpretation, this phonetic association adds an additional layer of irony and self-questioning to the title. Even if such wordplay is less evident in English, the universal themes of vanity and authenticity remain accessible to a global audience. Plot in briefThe story of the comedy-drama follows Matthias (Albrecht Schuch), a man employed by a "rent-a-friend" agency. Need a cultured boyfriend, a perfect son, or a partner to rehearse an argument? Matthias can play the part flawlessly. Yet, while he excels at impersonating roles for others, his true challenge is simply being himself. The film combines satire and drama to portray how external performance can hollow out one's authentic self.From Venice to Hollywood?Since its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival in August 2024, where Wenger received the Premio Bisato d'oro (Critic's Prize) for Best Direction, the tragicomedy has toured major festivals and collected a string of awards. Highlights include Best Debut Feature at the Stockholm International Film Festival 2024 and the Dublin Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor (Albrecht Schuch) in 2025.With its sharp humor, visual precision, and reflections on identity, Austria's Oscar contender has already earned international recognition. Now, a nomination—or even an Academy Award—would seem like the next fitting step. The images show, from left, the poster of the film 'Peacock' (original German title 'Pfau - Bin ich echt?') by Bernhard Wenger, featuring actor Albrecht Schuch in the role of Matthias. The poster shows him dressed in a suit and looking upwards, set against a lush green background with large yellow title letters 'PFAU' and the tagline 'Bin ich echt?'. On the right is a portrait of director and screenwriter Bernhard Wenger, standing outdoors with crossed arms, wearing a black T-shirt. Photo portrait: © Hannah Schwaiger. Photos: © Nikolaus Geyrhalter Filmproduktion GmbH |