THE LONELIEST MAN IN TOWN
The Italian-Austrian directing duo of Tizza Covi and Rainer Frimmel (LA PIVELLINA) return with this fictionalized portrait of real-life Austrian blues musician Al Cook (a.k.a. Alois Koch), who, inspired by Elvis Presley and legendary blues musicians like Robert Johnson and Blind Lemon Jefferson, has dedicated his life and career to honoring this musical tradition, eschewing commerciality and the vagaries of fashion. Now in his 80s, Al is the final remaining resident in his Vienna apartment building, a characterful old place that shady developers need him to vacate so they can demolish and rebuild. Adept at avoiding the cartoonish enforcers sent to coerce him into leaving, Al nonetheless knows his time is up, and shortly after the Christmas holidays he begins the process of packing up his belongings and selling what he can bear to part with. Covi and Frimmel’s camera lingers over Al’s mementos, including photos of his deceased wife and the touring American blues musicians he played with at Vienna’s fabled Jazzland back in the day, as well as his exquisite record collection. Occasionally, Al dusts off an old VHS tape and gives it an airing; each one shows him in his prime, performing on stage. Lovingly shot on texture-rich 16mm film, with an unhurried pace and deadpan comedic tone that recalls early Aki Kaurismäki and Jim Jarmusch films, THE LONELIEST MAN IN TOWN is a quirky, heartfelt homage to a man who has truly marched to the beat of his own drum, living his life and pursuing his craft to their fullest. –Todd Hitchcock
Official Selection, 2026 AFI FEST, Berlin and New York film festivals. DIR/SCR/PROD Tizza Covi; DIR/PROD Rainer Frimmel. Austria, 2026, color, 86 min. In German with English subtitles. NOT RATED
Run Time: 86 Minutes
Opening Date: Sunday, December 13, 2026
Genre: Comedy, drama
