30th International Film Festival for Children and Young Audience SCHLiNGEL

The 13-year-old protagonist wants to live her life freely and follow her passion for music, but she is held back by the chaos and instability of her family. The grown-ups around her fail to take responsibility, leaving it all on her—whether she is prepared for it or not. An encounter with her previously unknown grandfather not only helps her realize that her needs and dreams are just as important as those of others, but also becomes the starting point of her personal transformation. The film’s visual language closely corresponds with the girl’s feelings, and the ending brings a glimpse of how life can be.

Paul, a teenager shattered by the violence he has endured, tries to mask his vulnerability through drugs and aggression as he struggles to fit into the new town. He craves acceptance—not from positive influences, but from peers who are equally lonely and broken. Although the local outcast Fränk himself is a victim, he evokes in Paul an emotional response that guides him toward empathy and change. The film’s direction and powerful performances immerse us in human suffering, reminding us that facing our mistakes can open the door to a new reality.