Taximan

Honourable Mention

Taximan is one of six films that we consider particularly successful and significant alongside the winners of the 2nd Taxifilmfest 2025.

Taximan is a masterly example of the art of omission. We experience an encounter reduced to the essentials, as it could take place in principle between passenger and driver in any taxi. The fact that the world’s theatre is playing in the back seat of the taxi is so touchingly presented by Taximan that the film became the darling of the taxi film festival team at first glance. An intimate play with great lighting and a cautiously optimistic outcome.

Plot

A stranded alcoholic and a mysterious taxi driver go on a slightly different kind of road trip.

Team

Leander Behal: director, writer, producer
Nicola Herrmann: producer
Lucas Heinze: cinematographer
Eric Baudler: editor
Mia Prahl: costume designer
Sebastian Schulz: sound
Hana Reintges: assistant cameraperson
Linus Berberich: gaffer

Cast

Michaela Behal: ‘Doris’
Lee Reimers: ’Taximan’

Leander Behal (born in 1998 in Berlin, Germany) is a director with a penchant for surrealism, magical realism and black humour. He is currently studying feature film directing under Maren Ade (Toni Erdmann) at the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg.

Director’s statement
Doris and the taxi driver are sensitive and conflicted individuals with a tortured past. They are outsiders who want to escape the reality that has almost broken them. It seems as though they have completely lost contact with society. And in turn, society has shunned them. The question is whether they can save each other. If not, no one will.

‘Taximan’ has a hopeful message. Even in the darkest days, the power of friendship can lead us to a better future.

Project type: short film, student project
Genres: road movie, dramatic comedy
Runtime: 9 minutes 19 seconds
Completion date: 23 March 2022
Production budget: €600
Country of Origin: Germany
Country of Shooting: Germany
Language: German
Shooting Format: DCI 4K
Aspect Ratio: 1.9:1
Film Colour: Colour
First-time Filmmaker: No
Student Project: Yes – Freie Universität Berlin