Afire

While taking a working vacation, writer Leon (Thomas Schubert) and photographer Felix (Langston Uibel) are surprised by the presence of Nadja (Paula Beer), a mysterious young woman staying as a guest at Felix’s family’s holiday home. At first, Nadja distracts Leon from finishing his latest novel and, with brutal honesty, forces him to confront his caustic temperament and self-absorption. But her edginess only intrigues him more.

As Nadja and Leon grow closer, an encroaching forest fire threatens the group, and tensions escalate when a handsome lifeguard and Leon’s tight-lipped book editor also arrive. Richly observed and paced with relaxed, unforced ease, Afire is entertainment with philosophical insight – and a reminder that, in the face of increasingly spur-of-the-moment climatological disasters, it may help if we understand each other, and ourselves, a little bit more.

(Germany / 2023 / Directed by Christian Petzold)
Unrated / 1 hr 42 mins