22 minutes of chemically-induced hell — can your conscience handle it?
A political activist falsly accused of being a terrorist is put into prison by a government hoping to gain information by subjecting him to chemical waterboarding.
Acting
Stumm's physical deterioration — no dialogue needed.
Direction
Thürck's unblinking eye refuses to look away first.
Sound
The water — you'll never hear a faucet the same.
Director
Andreas Thürck
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Released amid renewed debates about enhanced interrogation post-Snowden, the short weaponizes runtime as part of its message — brevity as brutality.
The chemical solution was actually harmless tinted water; Stumm's reactions were achieved through breath-holding and physical conditioning, making the performance even more disturbing.
US
