Hermes Phettberg used to be a mountain of a man, but now, due to illness, he has dangerously slimmed down. Despite his physical deterioration, this self-proclaimed “failure of a man” is still a charismatic commentator on Austrian society.

As Austria's most famous welfare recipient fights for daily survival, he spends his days on the internet and writes a weekly column in the famous Vienna city magazine “Der Falter”.