Seventeen-year-old Thomas and his father Niels spend their summer holidays at the Spanish coast. But their father and son time out takes a turn when a boat with African refugees sinks close to their hotel. One of them is 20-year-old Djamile. On a motorbike tour Thomas runs into Djamile and quickly decides to hide her from the Spanish authorities and the smugglers who brought her to Europe. When Niels and Angelica, Thomas’ teacher and his father’s love affair, learn about Thomas’ secret the situation is getting even more explosive. Niels does not support his son’s plans at all. Naive but passionate Thomas struggles to find a way to save Djamile. Deeper and deeper, he explores an unknown world of desperation, hope, greed, violence, betrayal, sorrow and... love.
Acting
Sven Gielnik's desperate, sweaty conviction sells the whole thing.
Cinematography
Paradise beaches vs human suffering — the contrast stings.
Director
Sören Voigt
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The title 'Implosion' refers to the collapse of Thomas's sheltered worldview — not an explosion of action, but a slow inward collapse of certainty.
Shot during Europe's 2011 refugee crisis escalation, the film's Spanish coastline setting mirrors real Mediterranean crossing routes still debated today.
DE
