Synopsis
In post-reunification Germany, a disgraced soldier embarks on a shady business venture. His life becomes even more complicated when he finds himself caught in a love triangle ruled by power and guilt. Petzold loosely draws on The Postman Always Rings Twice to weave a tense and menacing tale about capitalist dehumanization, with nods to film noir and a constant subversion of thriller conventions.
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
TORONTO FILM FESTIVAL
ROTTERDAM FILM FESTIVAL
BERLIN FILM FESTIVAL
BAFICI FILM FESTIVAL
SHANGHAI FILM FESTIVAL
WARSAW FILM FESTIVAL
Poster
