As the next screening in their “Film in der Messe” series, the StattKino initiative and the Idar-Oberstein Cultural Office are presenting the tragicomedy “The Life of Chuck.” Director Mike Flanagan is known for his adaptations of Stephen King’s works. “The Life of Chuck” stays strictly true to the short story by the grand master of horror and tells it in three chapters—from the end back to the beginning, that is, in reverse chronological order. The film, in its original English with German subtitles, will be shown on Sunday, November 8, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at the Messe Idar-Oberstein. No food will be served at this event.
Marty Anderson (Chiwetel Ejiofor) is teaching his class at the middle school when news of an earthquake causes a stir. It won’t be the last disaster; numerous others follow in quick succession around the world. And the sudden loss of the Internet also puts society to the test. No one knows exactly how these strange events came to pass. The only thing that’s clear is that people are overwhelmed by these changes.
At first glance, it looks like a mix of mystery and science fiction. How did all these disasters come about? Why has the internet stopped working? Why is technology in general going haywire? But the further the story progresses, the more the mystery surrounding Chuck—the man everyone thanks but no one knows—comes to the forefront. What does he have to do with these inexplicable events? The title “The Life of Chuck” already hints at part of the answer: King tells the life story of the mysterious stranger. But he doesn’t do it the usual way; instead, he chooses a different narrative structure that foreshadows the outcome before the explanation is revealed.
We follow the life of an unassuming accountant who, thanks to his grandmother, discovered his love of dancing as a child—and, thanks to his grandfather, his love of numbers. His fate is mysteriously intertwined with that of the entire world. The film is an ode to life—not sad, but sentimental, and yet life-affirming. It’s only a disaster movie at first glance. For at its lighthearted core, it conveys a very simple message: put down your paperwork every now and then and dance with abandon—as if there were no tomorrow.
Admission to the film costs 4 euros; seating is first-come, first-served. Tickets can only be purchased on-site at the box office. For more information about the event series, visit www.idar-oberstein.de/stattkino.