Bye Bye Bowser 2023 Short Film by Jasmin Baumgartner
Bye Bye Bowser (2023) Jasmin Baumgartner’s charming romance/comedy short film. Discover love & laughter in this must-watch indie gem.
🎸 Bye Bye Bowser (2023) — Romance/Comedy Short Film by Jasmin Baumgartner
A punk‑tinged love story about class, connection, and the awkward poetry of mismatched worlds, Bye Bye Bowser is a 20‑minute Austrian short that plays like a song you didn’t know you needed — raw, catchy, and a little bit reckless. Directed by Jasmin Baumgartner and written by Lorenz Uhl, it’s a romance that asks: What happens when you fall for someone who lives on the other side of your social universe?
Cinematography: Anna Hawliczek, Johannes Hoss, Adrian Bidron, Ioan Gavriel
Editor: Matthias Writze
Art Direction: Marlene Oberneder
Sound Design: Jón H. Geirfinnsson
Music: Enzo Gaier, Matthias Oldofredi
📖 Story in Brief
Luna is part of a tight‑knit, artsy friend group — the kind that spends nights in dim bars talking about “projects” and “concepts” while sipping craft beer. Across the street from her apartment, Laugo, a construction worker, spends his days in hard hats and high‑vis vests, building something tangible.
One day, Luna decides to rebel against the ironic detachment of her circle by writing a punk song about Laugo 🎸. It’s raw, loud, and — to her surprise — heartfelt.
The Spark: Laugo hears about the song and is intrigued.
The Clash: Their worlds couldn’t be more different — hers is full of abstract ideals, his is grounded in physical labor.
The Romance: They connect anyway, finding humor and attraction in the gap between them.
The Question: Can love survive when the novelty wears off and the realities of class, lifestyle, and expectation set in?
🎨 Creative DNA & Style
Punk energy: The film’s rhythm mirrors the raw, unpolished vibe of Luna’s song — quick cuts, handheld shots, bursts of color.
Urban realism: Vienna’s streets are captured without gloss, alive with scaffolding, graffiti, and the hum of everyday work.
Character‑driven humor: The comedy comes from small moments — awkward silences, mismatched cultural references, and the way Luna’s friends react to her “Bowser” romance.
Class & connection: How attraction can cross — and be tested by — social divides.
Rebellion through intimacy: Choosing love as a way to push back against cynicism.
Art vs. labor: The tension between making things for meaning and making things for survival.
Self‑awareness: How relationships can force us to confront our own pretensions.
✅ Pros & ❌ Cons
Pros
🎯 Fresh premise: Romance framed through a class‑clash lens.
🎭 Strong performances: Luna Jordan and Laurence Hadschieff bring warmth and authenticity.
🎨 Distinct visual style: Balances grit with playful energy.
🏆 Festival acclaim: Proven crowd‑pleaser on the international circuit.
Cons
⏳ Short runtime: Leaves you curious about what happens after the credits.
🌀 Ambiguity: Doesn’t tie up every emotional thread — which some will love, others not.
💡 Humanized Takeaway
Bye Bye Bowser 2023 short film is a love song in film form — messy, catchy, and full of feeling. Jasmin Baumgartner doesn’t romanticize away the differences between Luna and Laugo; instead, she leans into them, showing how attraction can be both a bridge and a fault line. It’s a reminder that sometimes the bravest thing you can do is step outside your comfort zone and see who’s waiting on the other side of the street.
🔍 Find More & Watch
IMDb page for Bye Bye Bowser — cast, crew, and production details
Lemonade Films profile — festival history and press kit
FilmAffinity entry — synopsis, credits, and awards