

Grief meets grace in 24 minutes that'll wreck you beautifully.
Melanie loses her entire family in a devastating arson attack. Overwhelmed by grief, she lives the day without direction, unable to find a way to heal herself. But when she meets the pregnant Katrin, she finds new hope.
Acting
Schrage's hollowed-out grief will haunt you for days.
Direction
Jiang trusts silence more than dialogue—rare confidence.
Cinematography
Ash-gray palette that somehow still finds light.
Director
DingDing Jiang
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The 24-minute runtime mirrors Melanie's single day of aimless grief—a formal choice as raw as its subject.
German short film funding often prioritizes trauma narratives; this one transcends the trend through Oriana Schrage's specific, unsentimental performance.