What a Feeling, an upbeat and poignant comedy about two middle-aged women who can’t avoid crossing paths or caving to the pull of romance, made its New York Premiere in October at NewFest36 to the delight of an enthusiastic crowd.
Set in Vienna, Marie Theres (Caroline Peters) is a tightly-wound but adorable bourgeois doctor whose husband comes to a midlife epiphany after spending time in the woods. On the eve of their 20th wedding anniversary, he announces he wants out of the marriage and Marie Theres lands in exactly the right place: a lesbian bar. It’s one of many crossings with Fa (Proschat Madani), a sultry free-spirited Persian-Austrian carpenter with a good grip who is generally not one to spend the night.
This charming movie will have you rooting for their romance, but complications develop, and serious topics unfold which director, Kat Rohrer, infuses with intelligence and humor.
Both women struggle with coming out to their families. In Fa’s case, her Iranian roots add complexity. Can she possibly be open with her ailing traditional Mama-Joon? Marie Theres, through a wacky turn of events, takes on Mama-Joon as a patient. But before declaring her newfound identity, the doctor must move farther along the path of her own self-discovery. And get closer, deliciously closer, to Fa. That’s the fun part. Both women are buoyed by supportive others who have their backs, encourage them to hone their authenticity, and help our protagonists find their wings.
Performances are first-rate, and the film is artfully cast. In supporting roles, Barbara Spitz is wonderful as Bigi, the colorful Bartender of Pussycat Bar. Gohar Nurbachsch is a non-professional actress, a gem plucked from the Persian community who plays an endearing Mama-Joon. Rafael Haider plays a fellow-doctor and side-kick to Marie Theres who longs to release his inner drag queen – and does not disappoint with the anthem from the 1983 film Flashdance. “First, when there’s nothing, but a slow glowing dream…” The finale guarantees you’ll leap out of your seat.
“I wanted people to leave happy and hopefully dancing,” Kat Rohrer tells GO. “It was [also] important to me to have a film that portrays queer joy.”
What a Feeling is the directorial narrative feature debut by Kat, who resides in both Austria and New York. She had always envisioned that her first feature would be a drama, but it turned out a rom-com was the remedy she needed for her own personal healing.
“Shortly before the pandemic really blew up, I had a breakup,” Kat explains. “So I was isolating alone, and I really didn’t feel like I wanted to deal with a drama. I wanted to write a comedy.” It was also important to Kat to highlight stories of people her age.
“I always feel there’s a little more at stake later in life, because the time is shorter and you’re more established… as a person, and maybe less willing to adapt. I didn’t see that represented, and I wanted to see a film about me and about my friends who are just in the middle of their lives.”
Kat wrote the script during lockdown, pushing through the challenges of dyslexia and 15 drafts. “I’m not sure how aware I was of it at the time, but I worked out some questions that I had for me in my life going forward through those characters,” Kat tells GO.
She ultimately secured financing from multiple entities in Austria, a country generous with subsidies, though competition can be steep. She wrote the script with the revered German actress Caroline Peters in mind, drawn to her physical comedy talents. Proschat Madani was her best friend and she knew from the start that the role of Fa was meant for her.
“We were such a great team,” Kat says of her crew and cast. “We ended up being such a wonderful family, and still are, because we all had such a great experience that we still stay very connected.”The film made its world premiere at BFI Flare London LGBTQI+ 2024 and showings include Frameline in San Francisco, screenings from Miami to Vancouver, and cinemas in Austria and London. Check out Greenkat’s website for announcements on showings and future streaming and distribution plans. And stick around for the credits– you’ll be rewarded with cute out-takes!
