Leon (Thomas Schubert), a pretentious young writer struggling to finish the follow-up to his first book, embarks on a much-needed writing retreat in a seaside cottage with his best friend, a charmingly laissez-faire photographer. To the surprise of the duo, they arrive to find a mysterious woman, Nadja (played by the director’s frequent collaborator Paula Beer), staying at their place. Meanwhile, on the horizon, forest fires burn.

The latest film from Christian Petzold (Phoenix, Barbara) comments on the subjectivities of passion with the same piercing soberness it uses to touch upon themes of insecurity and failure. The result is a sharp – and raucously entertaining — portrayal of the struggles of creatives, and one of the German auteur’s funniest films to date..

Winner of the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize at this year’s Berlin International Film Festival.

Text by Rafa Sales Ross, Edinburgh International Festival

"A tonic for moviegoers tired of nice, squishable, likable, relatable dull and dull characters." New York Times