Mathias Mlekuz Processes Son's Suicide in Hybrid Road Movie
French filmmaker Mathias Mlekuz channels grief into his second feature, "Auf zwei Rädern" (On Two Wheels), a hybrid of documentary and fiction. Following his son's suicide in 2022, Mlekuz co-writes, directs, and stars in a film that retraces a bicycle journey his son once took from France's Atlantic coast to the Black Sea. Alongside longtime friend Philippe Rebbot and a dog named Lucky, the trio encounters landscapes and people, while the two men openly discuss death, guilt, and life's meaning. The film balances humor and sadness, aiming for a hopeful tone. It is Mlekuz's second directorial effort after 2020's "Mine de rien."
Key facts
- Mathias Mlekuz's son died by suicide in 2022.
- "Auf zwei Rädern" is Mlekuz's second film as director.
- The film is a mix of documentary and fiction.
- Philippe Rebbot co-stars as a fictionalized version of himself.
- The journey goes from the French Atlantic coast to the Black Sea.
- The route was originally taken by Mlekuz's son.
- The film features a dog named Lucky.
- Mlekuz previously directed "Mine de rien" in 2020.
Entities
Artists
- Mathias Mlekuz
- Philippe Rebbot
Locations
- France
- Atlantic coast
- Black Sea