05/12/2024 - Toplined by Lars Eidinger and Nicolette Krebitz, the German helmer’s latest feature depicts the everyday life of a middle-class family in a world that has become unstable

The world premiere of Tom Tykwer’s (Run Lola Run, Cloud Atlas [+see also:
film review
trailer
making of
film profile], Babylon Berlin) latest feature, titled The Light, will open the 75th edition of the Berlin International Film Festival, set to unspool in the German capital from 13-23 February. In it, the writer-director promises to show the everyday life of a German middle-class family in a world that is spinning fast and has become unstable.

The German-French co-production will be presented out of competition in the Berlinale Special Gala section and screened at the Berlinale Palast.

The cast is led by Lars Eidinger (Dying [+see also:
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interview: Matthias Glasner
film profile], About Joan [+see also:
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trailer
interview: Laurent Larivière
film profile], Babylon Berlin) and Nicolette Krebitz (A Cloud in Our House, A E I O U - A Quick Alphabet of Love [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Nicolette Krebitz
film profile]). The story zooms in on the Engels: Tim (Eidinger), Milena (Krebitz), their twins Frieda (Elke Biesendorfer) and Jon (Julius Gause), and Milena's son Dio (Elyas Eldridge). They are a family who live more side by side than together, and nothing holds them together until housekeeper Farrah (Tala Al-Deen) enters their lives. The mysterious woman from Syria puts the Engels’ world to the test unexpectedly and brings to light feelings that have long been hidden. In the process, she pursues a plan all of her own that will fundamentally change the family’s life.

“We knew as soon as we saw The Light that we wanted to have it open the 75th Berlinale. Tom Tykwer finds beauty and joy in our often fractured and challenging world, and magically captures the essence of our modern life on screen. It is our great pleasure to welcome Tom back to the Berlinale with The Light,” says new Berlinale director Tricia Tuttle.

Tykwer has opened the Berlinale twice previously: in 2002, with his first international production, Heaven [+see also:
trailer
film profile]; and in 2009, with the political thriller The International [+see also:
trailer
film profile].

“I’m over the moon to open next year’s Berlinale with The Light,” comments Tykwer. “The Berlinale is the festival of my life. The city is my destiny. This film is my longing.”

The Light is a German-French production staged by X Filme Creative Pool, in co-production with ZDF, ARP Sélction, Gold Rush Pictures, Gretchenfilm and BA Filmproduktion. The pic will be released in German cinemas on 20 March 2025 by X Verleih, which is sharing distribution with Warner Bros. Beta Cinema is in charge of its world sales.