New projects by renowned directors such as Oskar Roehler ("Enfant Terrible"), Christoph Hochhäusler ("The Lies of the Victors") and Julia von Heinz ("And Tomorrow the Entire World") have received major German film funding, the last by Merkel's government and state minister for culture before the Green Party takes over the post.
Von Heinz' film adaptation of the novel "Too Many Men" on screen titled "Iron Box" tells the story of a young woman's journey with her father, a Holocaust survivor, to the places of his childhood. In "Abendland," video artist Omer Fast uses the mode of the fantastic to illuminate the real dangers of political radicalization, whereas Kanwal Sethi's new project "Between Us" tells of everyday racism in Germany with great sensitivity. In her second feature film, "Monster im Kopf," writer-director Christina Ebelt tells the story of a convicted violent offender who fights for a life together with her still unborn child. And Axel Ranisch dares the balancing act between cinema and opera in his new interpretation of the Eurydice play "Orpheus in Love".
In production are among others:
"Iron Box" by director Julia von Heinz.
Poland, 1990 -- American journalist Ruth travels to Poland with her father Edek to visit the places of his childhood. But Edek --a Holocaust survivor-- resists reliving his trauma. With all his might, he sabotages the trip, creating more than one unintentionally hilarious situation.
"8 1/4 "by writer and director Oskar Roehler.
Gregor Samsa is a washed-up director, in his late fifties, a battered guy in a battered society, who is
reviewing his life. The fact that he has wasted it as a cultural worker doesn't exactly add to his joy.
"Learning to Die" by director Christoph Hochhäusler.
In order to gain the trust of a big-time dealer, undercover investigator Robert is supposed to let himself be infiltrated into the milieu as the partner of trans* woman Leni. For the gay Robert, the love affair becomes an ordeal, as he is equally attracted and repelled by her. But because Leni's return to prison depends on the success of the mission, she is also at his mercy. It is the spied dealer, of all people, who makes Robert confront his conflicting feelings....
"Abendland" by writer and director Omer Fast.
Abendland is a small village in the forest whose inhabitants have withdrawn from the failed German state. When a young activist from West Germany becomes stranded in the rapturous parallel world, the fragile utopia threatens to fall apart.
"Orpheus in Love" by director Axel Ranisch.
A young call center agent falls in love with a petty criminal street dancer. She is Orpheus. He is Eurydice. Her means of expression is singing, he articulates himself through his dance. For her great love she descends into the underworld, faces her old demons and learns to trust again. An operatic pastiche between Puccini and Christian Steiffen.
"Between Us" by writer and director Kanwal Sethi
Ilyas and Yasemin are still lovers after 15 years of marriage with two children. Together they run a café. Out of the blue, Yasemin is shot dead there by strangers. Ilyas' world comes crashing down. As if that wasn't enough, the investigation revolves around him, her family and friends instead of getting to the trail of the killers.
In development are among others:
"Cuddle Cat" by Anne Zohra Berrached.
In a fictional Internet love story, lonely child-woman Maria (28) is supposed to play the girlfriend of influencer and cat person Kuschel Cat (25), but inadvertently brings down the house of cards of virtual identities when love becomes real and Kuschel Cat becomes himself as a result.
"Central Station" by Henrika Kull
A wild, dirty spaceport in the Middle East, a dystopian place in a fucked-up world ravaged by environmental disasters and pandemics. This is where Eleni and Amir meet, experience a day together, and then lose each other again. From then on, they can't find each other again, yet they will never forget each other.
"Mehtap" by Ali Soozandeh.
"Mehtap" is a film about the horrors of war - told from the perspective of a stray dog. Soon her sniffer nose is put to the test at a camp for mine detection dogs, and the lives of an entire unit depend on her sense of smell....
"The Rainy-Weather Man" (based on the drama of the same name by Alfred Matusche) by Andreas Goldstein
A small town between Krakow and Lvov. Galicia. June 21, 1941, a Saturday. It is the last twelve hours before the invasion of the Soviet Union. The last twelve hours in the life of Private Gleß. It is raining now and in the following hours. A slowed and stretched time.
"Salim" by Murad Abu Eisheh
After raising a rainbow flag for 3 minutes in Egypt, Salim has to live with the consequences for the rest of his life. A hunt full of injustice begins and the homophobic society decides to make an example of him.
"Science of Happiness" by Henner Winckler, Sina Ataeian Dena, Kia Ataeian Dena.
After an exhausting day and a long night, the paths of an exiled Iranian, a committed documentary filmmaker and a Kreuzberg barmaid cross in a Berlin S-Bahn.
source: German State Ministry for Culture
image: Juia von Heinz, photo by Iva Berlin, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
