Russian-born, Berlin-based writer-director Natalia Sinelnikova's first feature, We Might as Well Be Dead [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
interview : Natalia Sinelnikova
fiche film], is set to have its world premiere as the opening film of the upcoming Berlinale's Perspektive Deutsches Kino section.

Billed as a social satire, the film follows 40-year-old Anna (Romanian actress Ioana Iacob, last seen in the Tallinn Black Nights winner Dear Thomas [+lire aussi :
critique
interview : Andreas Kleinert
fiche film]), who lives in an appealing apartment building near the forest with her teenage daughter Iris. It’s a safe and secure place, and as security officer, Anna holds an important position. When the caretaker Gerti’s dog disappears, fear and mistrust are sparked in the community. Believing that her evil eye is responsible for the dog’s disappearance, Iris locks herself in the bathroom. To prove her daughter’s fears irrational, Anna starts searching for the missing animal. Soon, the community is convinced that Gerti’s dog died a violent death. Fear and suspicion spread among the residents. Anna tries to reason with them, but a group of voluntary vigilantes start investigating her, and her situation gets increasingly dire.

“Premiering my first feature at the Berlinale and opening the Perspektive Deutsches Kino section means the world to me,” Sinelnikova tells Cineuropa. “I feel encouraged to further develop my cinematic language and to strive for bold aesthetic visions. It is also a great acknowledgement of the incredible work of every member of our cast and crew.”

Producer Julia Wagner, of Berlin-based HEARTWAKE Films, adds: “Natalia Sinelnikova introduces herself as a brave and fresh new voice in Germany, with an exciting first feature, both in artistic terms and in its bittersweet timeliness in how it explores the power of fear and the need to belong in Western societies. For a debut director to be discovered these days, it’s crucial to have real encounters with audiences in a physical cinema, so we really hope all goes well in these still-crazy times, and the online EFM with hybrid screening options allows for the market to engage and discover new talents. We’re truly happy to be starting the journey with our film during this year’s Berlinale, opening the Perspektive Deutsches Kino section.”

Co-written by Sinelnikova and Viktor Gallandi, and lensed by Jan Mayntz, the film also stars Pola Geiger, Jörg Schüttauf, Şiir Eloğlu, Moritz Jahn and Susanne Wuest. It was co-produced with Charlene Gürntke and Lina Mareike Zopfs for Filmuniversität Babelsberg Konrad Wolf in association with Magdalena Wolff for Kojoten Filmproduktion and Ioana Iacob. Fortissimo handles its international sales.

Check out our exclusive teaser below: