Germany 2026
Opening February 12, 2026

Directed by: Sönke Wortmann
Writing credits: Robert Gold, Jan Weiler
Principal actors: Sebastian Bezzel, Anna Schudt, Judith Bohle

Hannes (Sebastian Bezzel) is in his late forties/early fifties, living in Hamburg after moving from Cologne. He writes books and cooks for his wife Sara (Anna Schudt), daughter Carla (Kya-Celina Barucki), and son Nick (Philip Müller). At age twenty-one Carla moves into her own apartment, followed by her mother Sara, who moves in with her. Hannes is alone with Nick who is on the verge of failing his class at the Uwe Seeler Gymnasium. Hannes meets his publisher in a restaurant, who shares the bad news that they have finished his series of seven books, with no plans to print an eighth. What looks like a life full of depressing events, changes when Hannes meets Vanessa (Judith Bohle). They date; he listens to her choir. She helps Nick learn mathematics for school. Then daughter Carla moves in with boyfriend Paul. Will Sara return to Hannes?

In the German language two words are spoken identically, but written differently with different meanings. Die Ältern translates to “the older ones” and Die Eltern means “the parents.” Here we have both with Hannes in his midlife crisis, worried about his children. Based on the book of the same title (Die Älteren) written by Jan Weiler, the film begins and ends with Hannes and Sara sitting in a car talking about life, death, and plans to meet again. It starts with Hannes getting his high school diploma in 1993, with a few instances of his young life, and, after about ten minutes, jumps to the present with his son Nick receiving his diploma in 2025. Especially wonderful is the gorgeous photography of Hamburg, where the film was made. There is a discussion about turnip cabbage (kohlrabi). Perhaps there is repetition, and not always action, but Hannes reminded me so much of my own son, at the same age, with the same thoughts and plans. I could connect.  (Becky T.)