Maren Ade / Germany

Gitti and her architect friend Chris are spending the holidays in his parent’s house on Sardinia. They seem to be happy, playing silly private games, make love on the carpet and go for walks. When they bump into Chris’ university mate Hans, who seems to be more successful, his dark-haired girlfriend proudly admiring him, Chris’ and Gitti’s little games tend to become more of a power struggle. Independent and lively Gitti tries to please and support her boyfriend but is unable to conform; she does not want to become like “everyone else”.

It is a tragic-comic story of an odd and vulnerable young couple struggling for their identity within the relationship. Birgit Minichmayr portrayed her Gitti powerfully as a vivacious but at the same time insecure, modern woman. She was awarded Best Actress for this leading role. Lars Eidinger made a perfect match as the introverted Chris.  

The German director Maren Ade, who also wrote the script, received the Silver Bear at the Berlinale.

This is only her second feature film after her highly acclaimed debut with The Forest For The Trees (Der Wald vor lauter Bäumen).