Writer Leon and photographer Felix travel to a holiday home on the Baltic coast for the summer – Leon needs to finish his second book, while Felix works on his portfolio, Their plans are upended when they arrive to find Nadja, an unexpected houseguest, already settled in.
Initially irritated by the fun-loving Nadja and her “could-be” boyfriend Devid, the stand-offish Leon finds himself gradually intrigued by and attracted to her. As the holidays progress, so too does the dynamic of the group. But everything is disrupted when the area’s forest fires, once far away, draw closer.
Afire, the second instalment, after Undine, in Christian Petzold’s so-called “elemental trilogy” is an intelligent and compelling film, full of humour and tragedy.
Festivals
Berlin International Film Festival 2023
Sydney Film Festival 2023
Tribeca Film Festival 2023
Awards
Winner – Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize, Berlin International Film Festival 2023
Reviews
“… on one level, it seems to belong to international cinema’s increasingly prevalent strain of climate catastrophe dramas, on another it’s a brittle character piece, a comedy of social embarrassment with a dark and ultimately tragic undertow.” – Jonathan Romney, Screen International
“Christian Petzold returns with something lighter, funnier and more instantly-lovable … a film that’s much lighter and outwardly entertaining than what we’ve come to expect from him.” – Marina Ashioti, Little White Lies
