Afire

An award-winning tale of love and loss from director Christian Petzold that follows a group of friends trapped by forest fires in their holiday home on the Baltic Sea, and asks how we might narrate and find meaning in our lives against a backdrop of existential peril.

Leon (Thomas Schubert), a self-important author, joins his friend Felix (Langston Uibel) on a trip to his holiday house by the Baltic Sea. This is Leon’s chance to clear his head and finish his next novel in peace; but, much to his surprise, the house is already occupied when they arrive. The beautiful, free-spirited Nadja (Paula Beer) is staying there for the summer and becomes an unwanted distraction for Leon, who takes his work (and himself) very seriously.
Felix and Nadja soon become friends and find themselves sharing more than just a fun-loving zest for life. While they enjoy a carefree summer, Leon becomes increasingly disconcerted by, and secretly jealous of, their frivolity. Meanwhile, as their lusts, tensions, and dramas play out, forest wildfires rage around them and impending disaster looms.

Christian Petzold’s acclaimed latest was the winner of the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize at this year’s Berlin International Film Festival.

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