Four Minus Three Four Minus Three Four Minus Three

Four Minus Three

Vier minus drei

Austria, Germany | 2026 | 121 min

Language: German

Subtitles: English

Not for persons under 12


Director(s): Adrian Goiginger

Script: Senad Halilbašić based on the book "Vier minus drei. Wie ich nach dem Verlust meiner Familie zu einem neuen Leben fand" (2012) by Barbara Pachl-Eberhart

Cast: Valerie Pachner, Robert Stadlober, Stefanie Reinsperger, Hanno Koffler, Ronald Zehrfeld, Jonas Recklie, Victoria Wild

Production: 2010 Entertainment, Giganten Film Produktions

Distribution: Beta Cinema


Drama


Family At Work Yearning Psychological Literature


Horizons
Letterboxd

Screenings:

Barbara’s (Valerie Pachner) and Heli’s (Robert Stadlober) life’s calling is to perform as clowns. They live their lives in rural Austria in a modest, bohemian setting. Carefree joy and laughter with their two young children intermingle with their artistic passions. That is, until one ordinary morning, Heli and the children die in a car accident. 

Through flashbacks, we learn what being a clown has meant to Heli and Barbara. The most important thing is to surprise the audience. Humane unpredictability, which was once the bread and butter of Barbara’s life, morphs into an uncontrollable tragedy after the accident. Slowly the art of clownery helps Barbara deal with her loss. Her clown character matures and develops. As Heli states in one of the flashbacks, a clown is the result of lifelong character development, and the best clowns carry a depth that can only be achieved through living.

The film is based on the Austrian bestselling novel authored by Barbara Pachl-Eberhart inspired by her own life.

Saara Tuusa


Logo 1
Updated 2026-07-30 17:30:10 UTC