Vengeance, the darkly comedic directorial debut by B.J. Novak, begins with a podcast pitch and spirals into a biting exploration of American identity. Ben Manalowitz (B.J. Novak), a journalist from New York, is thrust into unfamiliar territory when he travels to West Texas after the sudden death of a casual acquaintance. Hoping to turn his experience into content, he sets out to create a true crime podcast that will elevate his career and comment on the broader American condition. But as he delves deeper into the lives of the victim’s family and the rhythms of small-town Texan life, he begins to confront the limits of his worldview—and the uncomfortable truths that lie beneath the surface of his project.

Blending satire, mystery, and social commentary, Vengeance pulls apart the stories we tell ourselves about “red” and “blue” America. It questions the ethics of true crime entertainment, the role of self-branding in modern journalism, and the power of stereotypes to shape—and distort—reality.

Following the screening, we will reflect on the film’s portrayal of a culturally divided America. How accurate is Vengeance in its depiction of the urban-rural divide? How does it employ and unveil common stereotypes? And what does it tell us about the role of media—particularly podcasts and social platforms—in shaping identity, empathy, and truth in contemporary America? We look forward to discussing these and other questions with:

Dr. Philipp Adorf is a research associate at the University of Bonn’s Institute for Political Science and Sociology. His work focuses on the rise of the Republican Party in the U.S. South, the political impact of increasing ethnic diversity in the United States, and the appeal of right-wing populist parties among working-class voters on both sides of the Atlantic. He earned his doctorate with a dissertation on the Republican Party’s Southern strategy and frequently speaks on current threats to U.S. democracy and on transatlantic political trends.

Please register here via Eventbrite. 

Tickets are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. We kindly ask you to only reserve the number of tickets that you will definitely use.

This event is kindly supported by the Federal Foreign Office.