"It’s About Luis" – Film Addresses Unfair Dumping Competition with Rental Car Platforms

Yesterday was the premiere in Berlin-Weißensee, and the Federal Association of Taxi and Rental Car was there live: with vice presidency, board members, and management, as well as Berlin's "taxi experts" Irene Jaxtheimer, Klaus Meier, and Ahmad Vahdati. Together, at the Toni cinema, they celebrated the movie debut of "It's About Luis" with the two main actors Max Riemelt, who plays Luis' father and a taxi driver, and Luis' mother Natalia Rudziewicz. This film addresses three important social issues.

"Easy Lane" – synonymous with the ride services Uber & Co.

Already through social media, the Federal Association had shared individual scenes from "It's About Luis" in recent days, making it clear: This film pinpoints the dilemma faced by the taxi industry as a regulated sector and part of public transport. For example, there is a scene in front of a club where the waiting taxi drivers have gathered in vain to take the youths home. Instead, they use "Easy Lane." This is the synonym used in the film for ride services. Max Riemelt, as the taxi driver, also engages in a car chase with an Easy-Lane driver and gets in trouble with his boss for it – the issue divides the industry. The film clearly worked out what this displacement competition means for the regulated taxi industry:

"More work just to make ends meet – whoever can't manage that has to leave."

Permanent stress due to exploitation of labor

The film also addresses two other important issues, all of which are played out in the taxi as a "rolling stage": Luis, the child of Nathalia and Max, is bullied at school. Specifically, because he carries a purple unicorn backpack and is a dreamy child. The bullying takes on the worst forms – the school engages in victim-blaming. According to the lawyer who the parents then consult, this is "a common pattern in Germany." Through the bullying and unhealthy market structures in the film, it becomes clear to both Max and his wife: both are under constant stress, are exploited at work, overextend themselves, and have no resources for shared family time. They are in the "rush hour" of today's society – which is also illustrated very well in the film.