As a haven of security, the family in film has long been increasingly in doubt. Two highly original examples of this herald the start of this year's cinema autumn. "Looking into the Sun" observes four generations of a family in the Altmark region. In the crime comedy "Wenn der Herbst naht", surprising elective affinities arise. And the iconic US series "Girl" Lena Dunham also finds a British family connection in the 10 episodes of "Too Much".
new Visions Film Distribution
If walls, rooms and houses could speak, what kind of dramas would they tell? A farmstead in the Altmark region inspired film author Mascha Schilinski ("The Daughter", 2018) and her co-author Louise Peter to write "Looking into the Sun". Over the course of 100 years, people lived, loved, argued and died. Four contemporary witnesses comment off-screen on the fates of the families, while Fabian Gamper's camera compiles the impressions into a mosaic. This film was awarded the Jury Prize at this year's Cannes Film Festival.
studio Central
Lena Urzendowsky
With "In die Sonne schauen" at the latest, actress Lena Urzendowsky has made a name for herself in German film and television. Born in Berlin in 2000, she made her debut in front of the camera in the ZDF film adaptation of "The Snow Queen" (2014). She was honoured with the Grimme Award for her first leading role in 2016 in "The White Rabbit". She also plays leading or supporting roles in the successful series "How to Sell Drugs Online (Fast)" (2020), "Wir Kinder von Bahnhof Zoo" (2021) and "Luden" (2023).
Film genre: Family drama
Length: 159 minutes
Director: Mascha Schilinski
With: Hanna Heckt, Lena Urzendowsky, Laeni Geiseler, Susanne Wuest, Luise Heyer
Age rating: 16+
Distributed by: Neue Visionen Filmverleih
Release date: 28.8.2025
© Weltkino Filmverleih
Michelle's retirement in rural Burgundy is supposed to be a peaceful one. But then a poisonous mushroom in her daughter and grandson's lunch throws a spanner in the works. Although no one is seriously harmed, old wounds are torn open, leaving Michelle's future uncertain. "When Autumn Comes" is a thrilling journey through emotional landscapes and genres. What begins as a family drama turns into a crime thriller and character study. Director François Ozon also manages to do this with a twinkle in his eye.
© 2024 FOZ/FRANCE 2 CINÉMA/PLAYTIME
François Ozon
Whether comedy ("Sitcom", 1998) or tragedy ("Alles ist gut gegangen", 2021), historical drama ("Frantz", 2016) or musical ("8 Frauen", 2002), writer and director François Ozon is not only at home in all genres, he is right at home in them. The films by the author and director, who was born in Paris in 1967, usually premiere at the festivals in Cannes, Toronto and very often Berlin. in 2018, Ozon's abuse drama "Praise be to God" not only won the Grand Jury Prize at the Berlinale, but Federal President Steinmeier also awarded him the Federal Cross of Merit 1st Class.
Film genre: Family drama
Length: 102 minutes
Director: François Ozon
With: Hélène Vincent, Josiane Balasko, Ludivine Sagnier, Pierre Lottin, Garlan Erlos
Age rating: 12+
Distributed by: Weltkino Filmverleih
Release date: 28.8.2025
netflix
With her series "Girls" (2012-17), Lena Dunham recreated the image of women, and not just visually. The young New Yorker made herself the object of scrutiny with all her neuroses and emotions. The concept lasted an outstanding six seasons and left fans more self-confident, more rebellious and, above all, in anticipation of a suitable follow-up series. And now it's here! In "Too Much", Dunham deals with the most drastic experience in the life of an American woman: a move to London. Together with her English musician husband Luis Felber, she has packed the associated culture shock into ten crisp 30-minute films.
Genre: Comedy
Length: 300 min
Director: Lena Dunham
With: Megan Stalter, Will Sharpe, Emily Ratajkowski, Richard E. Grant, Rita Wilson
Age rating: 12+
Channel: Netflix
Since: 10.7.2025
© Common Colors
The big eyes with the heavy lids, the crow-footed squiggles... where do we recognise this from? That's right, from the early animations of film director Tim Burton. "Prim", the hand-drawn video game by German English and philosophy teacher Jonas Fisch, is visually a heartfelt homage to Burton's naive morbidity. This fits in well with the point and click story, in the course of which little Prim has to find and collect all kinds of bizarre things. Fisch himself collected the German Computer Game Award in the Best Family Game category for this game.
Type: Point and click adventure
Developer/Sales department: Common Colors/Application Systems Heidelberg
Available for: Windows, macOS, Linux
Address: prim-game.com
