Directed by:
Doris DörrieCinematography:
Hanno LentzComposer:
Volker BertelmannCast:
Alba Rohrwacher, Vinzenz Kiefer, Matthias Brandt, Andrea Sawatzki, Maren Kroymann, Margarita Broich, Petra Kleinert, Laura Agorreca, Aykut Kayacik (more)Plots(1)
Civil war ravages Irina's country. Soldiers burst into her family's house, kill her relatives and rape Irina. Traumatised, Irina flees to Berlin where she works illegally as a prostitute. In Berlin she meets Kalle, an unemployed punk, and lets him stay at her apartment. The two fall in love. But their happiness is soon threatened in the extreme when Kalle discovers a dead john in his girlfriend's bed and commits a desperate deed.
Criminal defence lawyer Noah Leyden takes on the case. Having defended numerous clients during similar trials he considers himself something of a specialist in the pursuit of happiness; he also knows what can happen the moment luck runs out. Events surrounding Irina and Kalle provide him with fresh material with which to ponder his favourite topic ...
Doris Dörrie's film is based on a short story with the same title by Ferdinand von Schirach which appeared in Verbrechen, Schirach's 2009 volume of stories, all of which were based on fact. Dörrie's film interprets Schirach's story as a study of a pair of lovers caught between their tenuous feelings of trust, long lost tenderness and a wretched situation.
(Berlinale)
Cast
![Alba Rohrwacher](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/164/237/164237348_7e4e9e.jpg)
Alba Rohrwacher
Italy
Best movies:
Perfect Strangers (2016)
My Brother Is an Only Child (2007)
The Place (2017)
![Vinzenz Kiefer](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/419/419043_8c9ac2.jpg)
Vinzenz Kiefer
West Germany
Best movies:
The Baader Meinhof Complex (2008)
Free Rainer (2007)
T-34 (2018)
![Matthias Brandt](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/168/731/168731651_zquggp.jpg)
Matthias Brandt
West Germany
Best movies:
Bliss (2012)
Dark Woods (2020) (series)
Wolves of Berlin (2009) (series)
![Andrea Sawatzki](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/147/172/147172500_dc4326.jpg)
Andrea Sawatzki
West Germany
Best movies:
Life Is All You Get (1997)
Bandits (1997)
Vom Atmen unter Wasser (2008) (TV movie)
![Maren Kroymann](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/168/853/168853692_tu2jhx.jpg)
Maren Kroymann
West Germany
![Margarita Broich](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/158/245/158245536_e539f3.jpg)
Margarita Broich
West Germany
Best movies:
The Reader (2008)
Das Tagebuch der Anne Frank (2016)
Sources of Life (2013)
![Petra Kleinert](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/159/233/159233381_ab3ffe.jpg)
Petra Kleinert
East Germany
Best movies:
Bliss (2012)
The Palace (2021) (series)
Turbo & Tacho (2013) (TV movie)
Laura Agorreca
Argentina
![Aykut Kayacik](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/159/597/159597872_b62b1d.jpg)
Aykut Kayacik
Turkey
Best movies:
Lola and Billy the Kid (1999)
Offroad (2012)
Almanya: Welcome to Germany (2011)
![Natalia Rudziewicz](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/102/640/102640903_bc01d7.jpg)
Natalia Rudziewicz
Germany
Best movies:
Bliss (2012)
Shifting the Blame (2012)
Tatort (1970) (series)
![Flora Thiemann](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/159/424/159424545_39e959.jpg)
Flora Thiemann
Germany
Best movies:
Bliss (2012)
The Aftermath (2019)
Tiger Milk (2017)
![Paraschiva Dragus](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/160/422/160422511_0876ea.jpg)
Paraschiva Dragus
Best movies:
The White Ribbon (2009)
Bliss (2012)
Go West - Freiheit um jeden Preis (2011) (TV movie)
![Irene Rindje](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/160/330/160330555_f709f4.jpg)
Irene Rindje
West Germany
Best movies:
Four Minutes (2006)
Toni Erdmann (2016)
Suck Me Shakespeer (2013)
![Christina Große](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/160/343/160343879_292574.jpg)
Christina Große
East Germany
Best movies:
Lessons of a Dream (2011)
Three (2010)
I Feel Like Disco (2013)
![Hildegard Schroedter](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/160/299/160299393_7c4848.jpg)
Hildegard Schroedter
West Germany
Best movies:
Generation War (2013) (series)
The Lives of Others (2006)
The Reader (2008)
![Oliver Nägele](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/160/063/160063277_7bdc3c.jpg)
Oliver Nägele
West Germany
Best movies:
Almanya: Welcome to Germany (2011)
Suis-je belle ? (1998)
Bliss (2012)
![Anja Karmanski](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/166/501/166501891_c88a43.jpg)
Anja Karmanski
West Germany
Best movies:
Bliss (2012)
Der Zürich-Krimi (2016) (series)
Little Thirteen (2012)
Levin Henning
Germany
Best movies:
Land of Mine (2015)
The White Ribbon (2009)
Bliss (2012)
Peter Mohrdieck
Germany
Best movies:
Bliss (2012)
Polizeiruf 110 (1971) (series)
My Mother's Courage (1995)
Nicoline Schubert
West Germany
Best movies:
Bliss (2012)
Callgirl Undercover (2010) (TV movie)