Foreign Language + Q&A

This screening is the opening film of FOKUS: Films from Germany and will be followed by a Q&A with the film's director Claire Burger, hosted by season curator Camilla Baier. Foreign Language is a poignant coming-of-age drama about cross-cultural discovery. Fanny, a shy young French girl, embarks on a student exchange to Leipzig, where she stays with her eco-activist pen pal, Lena. As Fanny is drawn into the complexities of Lena’s politically charged family dynamics, she begins to question her own identity and assumptions. Director Claire Burger deconstructs the typical foreign exchange narrative, presenting not an idealised family, but one grappling with generational and political tensions. Through this, the film unveils the personal struggles and societal challenges beneath the surface, as Fanny and Lena navigate their differences and form an unexpected bond. As well as strong performances from the two leads, Nina Hoss and Chiara Mastroianni bring depth to the roles of the girls' mothers, capturing their struggles to uphold their ideals amid the unraveling of their family lives. With its exploration of language barriers, political tensions, and generational conflict, Foreign Language is a resonant meditation on the challenges facing young people today—climate anxiety, rising nationalism, and the search for belonging. It is a poignant reminder that true connection often transcends words, offering a narrative that speaks to the resilience needed to navigate our spiralling world. - FOKUS curator Camilla Baier Screening as part of Fokus: Films from Germany. French, German and English with English subtitles.DramaPT1H45MN/C 12+2025-01-21

Lilith Grasmug

Josefa Heinsius

Nina Hoss

Claire Burger

Foreign Language + Q&A"Foreign Language + Q&A"

Showtimes

January 21, 8:00 pm