Jannis Lenz’s debut feature film, “Oasis,” premiered Sunday at the Venice Film Festival. The film centers on three teenagers—Andy, Lukas, and Maya—who develop a unique bond and engage in rituals involving self-inflicted wounds as a means of confronting their emotional vulnerabilities. Lenz, who was mentored by Jessica Hausner and assisted Michael Haneke, emphasizes his more open and improvisational approach to filmmaking despite acknowledging their influence.
The film begins with Andy, a new student in Southern Germany, facing expulsion after being filmed threatening classmates. He finds solace with Lukas, a teacher’s son, and the two retreat to the forest for paintball games, which Lenz describes as “a place where they can retreat to,” and “some kind of a space that isn’t part of a rigid system.” As Andy faces increasing pressure, Maya, a student from a performing arts school, enters the picture.
According to Lenz, the boys initially display “cliched displays of machismo,” but Maya encourages them to explore their vulnerability and sensuality. This leads to the development of rituals where they inflict and share physical pain. “Andy and Lukas build a traditional boyhood kind of friendship, and then Maya comes in. She brings in something very different. She brings in her own vulnerability. More and more they open up and these rituals develop. They build this safe space where they can show their wounds [both physical and psychological] and find some kind of healing for themselves, where they can feel seen and be who they are, being able to show their weaknesses,” Lenz explains.
The “Oasis” of the film’s title, Lenz clarifies, is not a physical location but rather “something they create by themselves, by their togetherness, and by the trust and safe place they build together.” Lenz also stated he prepares meticulously during the pre-production phase, but remains open to surprises during filming, prioritizing “openness with the actors, with improvisation.” He shares his mentors’ dedication to “precision,” particularly in preparation.
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