Candy Flip / Theo Meow

THE SAD GIRLS OF THE MOUNTAINS

DIE TRAURIGEN MÄDCHEN AUS DEN BERGEN

Germany, 2019, 82′

Four depressive teenagers withdraw from patriarchal society to start a new life in a mountain hideout. Isolated from society, they transform their misery and melancholia into pornography for their website “Sad Girls” – and use the money they earn to fund their survival. For them, sadness is an act of countercultural resistance, and they funnel whatever funds they can to support female Kurdish militia groups. Just when everything seems to be going fine, the arrival of two gonzo reporters threatens to upset the fragile balance of this feminist micro-utopia. A mockumentary about sad porn stars, feminism and the pervasive power of the male gaze.

Candy Flip
Came to this world to become a hooker. After finishing her second degree in university, Candy felt that a reputable job and a grounded lifestyle wouldn’t be right for her, so instead, she now earns her money as an independent escort and professional sub. Besides, Candy does porn – both in front and behind the camera. For her, sex work is not only a source of pleasurable income, but also a way to reclaim agency within a patriarchal system. She was one of the key casts in Shu Lea Cheang’s FLUIDØ which premiered at Berlinale 2017 and also performed as a femme gay boy in Bruce La Bruce’s SCOTCH EGG (2018). After directing various short films, THE SAD GIRLS OF THE MOUNTAINS is her feature-length debut. A mixture of antidepressants and cannabis helped her to write, direct and produce and edit the film while also being part of the main cast. She has promised to never do another movie again.

Theo Meow
Science journalist by day and a porn filmmaker by night. While researching his articles about neuroscience and psychiatry, he is constantly thinking about the location for his next smut. His secret passion is to discover new obscure fetishes, like those for asparagus, instant noodles, or agar-agar. He directed numerous short films including HANNA & THE KETA-BOYS, which premiered at Pornfilmfestival Berlin 2016, was the director of photography at Maria Beatty’s SPIT & ASHES (2019), and co-directed HUNGER (2019) for Erika Lust’s XConfessions series. THE SAD GIRLS OF THE MOUNTAINS is his first non-pornographic project, however it is heavily influenced by his experiences in the adult industry.