ARD comedy
Frustrated and drunk: Carolin Kebekus shows how singles are portrayed in many films
Carolin Kebekus shows how singles are often portrayed in films: as frustrated people.
©ARD
The annoyance has been known for a long time: In many films, women can only be happy if they find a man. Carolin Kebekus shows that there is another way.
Aren’t there any happy singles in the world? Carolin Kebekus asks this question in her show in view of the wave of romantic comedies such as “Actually… Love” or “Bridget Jones” that flood TV stations at Christmas time. “What’s the absolute worst thing that can happen in these films for women? Flood, war, Tom Cruise? No – she’ll be single!” Kebekus sums up the problem.
The comedienne is convinced that there are happy single women. But they don’t appear in these films. There, all women without a partner are super unhappy – just like Bridget Jones.
In a short post, she shows how single females are portrayed in rom-coms. Kebekus sits at home on the sofa as a person who is satisfied with her life and has a rich social life. She’s just on the phone to make an appointment with a friend in the bar.
Carolion Kebekus as a frustrated single
Of course that can’t be. And so the director intervenes. An voiceover explains, “Carolin had 64 cigarettes and 9 alcohol units.” The speaker also knows: “Caro is unhappy because she is alone. No messages on the answering machine.” Her objection that nobody has such a device anymore is immediately refuted: the director conjures up an answering machine in her living room.
The character transformation continues. Next, Kebekus sits in front of the TV in his pajamas and watches TV. “There is only one thought in her head: when will her prince finally come? The man who can save her from being alone and finally make her happy,” the spokesman explains her thoughts.
For a long time, women resisted this distortion of their reality. But at one point she gives up: “Unfortunately, Carolin doesn’t have a husband. She can always find solace in her constant companion: the indispensable giant pack of ice cream.”
According to studies, single people are even less lonely
Kebekus counters this clichéd depiction of unmarried women with facts: In Germany, almost 17 million people live alone. And they are no happier than the rest: Studies have shown that single people are often less lonely than married people, who often withdraw with their partner. Singles, on the other hand, nurtured the other relationships in their lives, friendships and family.
On the other hand, what is annoying: family, especially grandma, who keeps asking about a partner, a wedding or even children and does not want to see that a woman can also be happy on her own.
But the worst thing is the voice in your head that always asks for a happy ending – like Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan in “Sleepless in Seattle”. From an early age you are taught that the love relationship is the most important thing in life. The comedienne now contrasts this common narrative with her own version of a happy ending.
Very different from Tom Hanks
Carolin Kebekus recreates the final scene of “Schlaflos in Seattle”, which takes place on the roof of the Empire State Building. Kebekus has come to meet a man. And indeed: he is coming. A highly romantic setting that now culminates in a dialogue: “Anyway, I think we both are for each other…”, she begins. The man listens expectantly, “are not determined at all,” Kebekus finishes the sentence.
Does that kill the romance? The happy ending installed? On the contrary: “Oh my God,” the man exhales with relief. “I feel the same way.” An equally beautiful and plausible outcome of a date – which has almost never been considered in films.
In the end, Carolin Kebekus convincingly shows in her contribution that there are far more paths to happiness for a woman than finding a partner.
You can see the complete episode of the “Carolin Kebekus Show” in the ARD media library