A bored schoolteacher meets her escaped convict neighbor, and Stockholm syndrome has never felt this awkwardly German.
In a German town, teacher Irene leads an inconspicuous, boring, lonely life. One day, a man rings at her door and slips in. It's an armed convict from the prison next door, escaped with a leg wound. He now makes her a prisoner in her own home. Almost without a word, as if she secretly enjoys the excitement or just mesmerized, she obeys Vassily, every single command, even sexual services, submissively or after a symbolic struggle. Somehow that seems to change, but can force initiate love?
Acting
Böwe's silent complicity speaks volumes without dialogue.
Direction
Dilthey traps you in that apartment, no escape.
Director
Iain Dilthey
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was Iain Dilthey's feature debut after working as Abbas Kiarostami's assistant director.
The film sparked debate in Germany about whether it aestheticized abuse or exposed how women are socialized into submission.
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