71 Fragments of a Chronology of Chance 2005

As the curtains open, a stark and somber account of a mass killing unfolds through a series of intertitles, setting the tone for a gripping narrative that delves into the complex web of lives in Vienna. The story begins to unfold through a series of flashbacks, revealing the daily struggles and personal dramas of several individuals, each with their own unique struggles.

Among them is a young Romanian boy, who takes immense risks by crossing the border at night, navigating treacherous swamplands and hiding in the back of a truck. Once in Vienna, he ekes out a meager existence as a beggar on the streets. Elsewhere, a security worker goes about his duties, making pickups at a bank with precision, while a married couple tries to navigate the arduous process of adopting a young girl.

At home, a retired man spends hours talking to his daughter on the phone, longing for her attention and affection, but is met with indifference. A college student indulges in high-stakes games with friends, betting his prized watch against a stolen pistol, while a bank employee argues with his wife about their relationship, praying fervently for guidance.

As the news of the young Romanian boy’s story spreads, he finds himself taken in by the very couple who had been seeking to adopt the young girl. While out running errands, the wife leaves him alone in the car, unaware that she is being watched by her husband, who has arrived at the bank under the guise of collecting his pension.

Meanwhile, a college student’s day takes a dark turn as he stops for gas and finds himself short on cash. Frustrated and stressed, he ventures to an ATM across the street, only to discover it’s out of order. His impatience boils over as he rushes into the crowded bank, attempting to cut in line, but is met with hostility from another customer. The altercation leaves him shaken, and he retreats to his car to retrieve a gun he had stashed away earlier.

With a sense of desperation and despair, he returns to the bank, unleashing a hail of gunfire that claims innocent lives. In a final act of self-destruction, he turns the gun on himself, ending his tragic tale in a burst of violence and chaos.