Films by Andreas Hartmann

Germany, Japan 2024, 86 min
by Andreas Hartmann, Arata Mori

Every year, thousands of people vanish without a trace in Japan. Known as the Johatsu, or 'the evaporated,' they abandon their lives for various reasons, a troublesome relationship, mounting debts or threats from the mafia. Some get support from so-called 'night moving' companies, which help people to disappear and start a new life somewhere else. Taking an intimate look at the phenomenon of 'evaporating people,' JOHATSU – INTO THIN AIR depicts the inner conflicts and attempts at reconciliation

Germany 2017, 75 min
by Andreas Hartmann

22-year-old Kei refuses to conform to Japan’s performance-oriented society. He lives as a ‘Jiyujin,’ a free man, on the streets and under the bridges of Kyoto. Kei dropped out of university and quit the military against the will of his family, trading in the safety of his parents' home for an unknown future as a homeless person. His Discman and his collection of classical music are his only steady company. Kei’s love for music and nature keeps him afloat in his dream world. However, when the mon

2015, 68 min
by Andreas Hartmann

Kyaw Kyaw, a 25-year-old Burmese punk, pursues the dream of seeing the punk scene take off in Myanmar.The former military dictatorship carried out a few democratic reforms, but he remains sceptical: In his opinion, the country hasn’t changed yet. Along with the members of his punk band, he tries to raise the awareness of his people about the persistent violation of human rights. By way of his music and the demonstrations in the streets, he criticizes the ongoing civil war and the persecutions of