Stella

Stella is in love with, of all people, someone almost four times her age and has no idea how to tell him. But her older sister Katja’s problem weighs far heavier on her mind. Katja is a talented figure skater and is always busy with school or training. At home she receives almost all of her parents’ attention. Stella barely gets a look in. Stella admires her sister and tries hard to emulate her. The two girls get on well as a rule, but Katja hardly has any time and can sometimes be unexpectedly distant and mean. Stella is the first to realise that something is wrong with her sister and discovers that she is suffering from a severe eating disorder that could kill her. Stella wants to tell their parents but Katja forces her to swear not to. That is far too big a burden of responsibility for a girl of her age. This powerful film describes how Katja’s illness slowly drives the family to the brink of despair.

Source: 65. Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin (Catalogue)