Amrum

Fatih Akin gives us a period drama seen through the eyes of young Nanning. The action takes place on Amrum, a small island in North Frisia, just as the flames of World War II die down and Germany falls to ruin after Hitler's suicide. Nanning witnesses his family's sudden fall. His father, a high-ranking SS officer, and his mother, now suffering from a paralyzing depression, must watch their privileged existence be turned upside down. The consequences of their involvement during the war have finally caught up with them. In a touching attempt to lighten his mother's burden, Nanning takes on an important mission: to procure ingredients for a simple wheat bread with butter and honey. In the search for these luxury goods on a barren island, the boy is challenged by the vagaries of nature, stubborn animals, and confrontations with other youths. He is forced to navigate a new, chaotic landscape where hidden truths begin to shine through.

Director Fatih Akin has created a beautiful portrayal of a childhood during a dark transition period. The film is an intimate portrait of the loss of innocence, set against the visual contrast between the island's beauty and the political turmoil of the post-war era. The script was developed in collaboration with the 86-year-old director and screenwriter Hark Bohm and is based on his childhood memories from Amrum. Bohm died on November 14, 2025.