Falco – Verdammt, wir leben noch!

With FALCO – DAMN IT, WE'RE STILL ALIVE!, director Thomas Roth has created a cinematic monument to arguably Austria's most flamboyant pop star. The biopic tells the story of Johann "Hans" Hölzel, better known as Falco – from the musically gifted Viennese boy to his rise to international superstardom and his tragic death in the Dominican Republic in 1998. The film traces Falco's extraordinary career: from his beginnings with Drahdiwaberl and the Hallucination Company, through his breakthrough with "Der Kommissar," to the worldwide success of "Rock Me Amadeus," the only German-language song to date to reach number one on the US Billboard charts. At the same time, it offers a glimpse behind the celebrated artist's facade, revealing the darker side of fame – an excessive lifestyle, alcohol and drug problems, personal crises, and the constant search for recognition. Manuel Rubey delivers a compelling performance, even singing Falco's well-known hits himself. The result is an atmospheric portrait of an exceptional personality who profoundly shaped Austrian pop culture. A moving film about success, self-promotion, loneliness, and the legacy of an icon whose music continues to inspire generations.