Synopsis
Philipp Gerber is a smart, self-satisfied car salesman. In an inattentive moment at the wheel of his car, he runs over a young boy riding a bike and drives away. As he has feelings of guilt, he tries to find out more about the accident’s victim and learns that the boy lies seriously injured in a hospital. Philipp wants to tell his mother, Laura Reiser, the truth, but he doesn’t. After a carefree holiday with his girlfriend Katja, he learns that the boy is dead. Meanwhile, Laura staggers between grief and the desire for revenge. One evening, she can’t bear it anymore and jumps off a bridge, but Philipp saves her life.
Filmmaker
Christian Petzold
His filmography is a portrait of contemporary Europe that takes the form of melodrama, fantastical fable, or sociopolitical narrative. His cinema, a direct heir to the Berlin School, is characterized by precise and austere mise-en-scène, and by characters often trapped in spaces of transition. A prolific filmmaker, selected and awarded at festivals such as Berlin, Venice, and San Sebastián, that has established himself as one of the essential voices of contemporary European cinema.
Filmography: Mirrors No. 3 (2025, D'A 2026), Afire (2023, D'A 2026), Undine (2020, D'A 2026), Transit (2018, D'A 2026), Phoenix (2014, D'A 2026), Barbara (2012, D'A 2026), Jerichow (2008, D'A 2026), Yella (2007, D'A 2026), Ghosts (2005, D'A 2026), Wolfsburg (2003, D'A 2026), The State I Am In (2000, D'A 2026), Das warme Geld (mid-length, 1992), Ostwärts (short, 1991), Süden (short, 1990)
Awards and festivals
FIPRESCI Prize
Poster
