27/07/2026 - The Danish-Egyptian director's third feature is set in 1945 and follows a nanny who is about to marry a wealthy widower while she guards the secret of a relationship with a German soldier

May el-Toukhy's third feature film, Woman Unknown, is set to world-premiere in competition for the Golden Lion of the upcoming 83rd Venice International Film Festival (2-13 September), as the only film in the line-up directed by a woman. The Danish-Egyptian director is best known for the 2019 Sundance Audience Award winner Queen of Hearts.

Co-written with el-Touhky's regular collaborator Maren Louise Käehne (also known for hit series The Bridge and Borgen), Woman Unknown tells the story of Marie, a young nanny and housemaid, who is about to marry the wealthy older widower, Christian, for whom she works. But Marie harbours a shameful secret. During World War II, she was in a relationship with a German soldier. Now Marie’s past threatens to catch up with her, and she is forced to do everything in her power to preserve her new status as lady of the house in post-war chaos.

"These weeks leading up to and immediately following the liberation in 1945 were marked by euphoria and hope, but also by chaos and vigilantism in the absence of a functioning legal system in the wake of the war. Women’s sexual behaviour was perceived as a violation of the nation’s identity and self-image, making it a collective mission to punish them for who they had shared their bodies with," says el-Toukhy. "The female body as a public domain and a battlefield are central themes in the film that I believe remain relevant and have the potential to resonate universally, and not only in times of war," she continues.

The film stars rising talent Mathilde Arcel (Second Victims; Special Unit – The First Murder) in the leading role, as well as Carsten Bjørnlund (the series The Legacy), Thorbjørn Hedegaard (the series Generations) and Marina Bouras (Sons, The Idiots). Queen of Hearts cinematographer Jasper Spanning (also known for The Guilty) returns as the director of photography, as does editor Rasmus Steengaard Hansen. Both of them also worked on Gustav Möller's Sons, along with Bouras.

Woman Unknown was produced by Mikael Rieks (Land Of Mine, Boundless) and executive produced by Tine Grew Pfeiffer and Katrine Vogelsang for Nordisk Film Production A/S, in co-production with Latvia's Nafta Films, Nordisk Film Production Sweden and Film i Väst. The production received support from the Danish Film Institute, Eurimages, Investment and Development Agency of Latvia, Riga City Council, Nordisk Film & TV Fund, DR, the Swedish Film Institute, SVT, LIAA, Riga Film Fund, Zentropa and TrustNordisk, the company which is also handling international sales.