In the summer of 1980, Barbara has applied to leave the country. She is a doctor and is now transferred to a small hospital deep in the provinces, far away from everything. Jörg, her lover from the West, is preparing her escape; the Baltic Sea is one of the options. Barbara waits. Her future still has to wait.
Christian Petzold - 1960 DEU
Christian Petzold - 1960 DEU
Christian Petzold (*1960 in Hilden) is one of the most innovative contemporary German directors. A crucial part of his education was his studies at the German Film and Television Academy Berlin (1988–1994), where he began a close collaboration with his mentor, filmmaker, artist, and intellectual Harun Farocki (1944–2014), who would have a profound influence on his work.
After directing several short films and television productions, Petzold made his feature film debut with The State I Am In (2000) – the first chapter of his so-called “Ghost Trilogy,” which brought him international recognition – exploring the consequences of German reunification. In Barbara (2012), Phoenix (2014), and Transit (2018), he delves into themes of identity, trauma, and political persecution, forming what he describes as a “trilogy about love in times of repressive systems.”
With Undine (2020), Petzold began his "Trilogy of the Elements," intertwining mythological motifs with contemporary narratives. The second installment, Afire (2023), won the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize at the Berlinale. His latest project falls outside this trilogy and focuses on themes of loss and new beginnings.