Was Du nicht siehst

What You Don′t See

Late summer, Brittany. 17-year-old Anton travels to a holiday cottage on the craggy Atlantic coast with his mother, Luzia, and her lover, Paul. Luzia is hoping for a new start in her life with Paul, but is also trying to find a way to get closer to Anton, who has withdrawn from her ever since his father’s death. But from the very beginning of the trip Anton feels that he is out of place. The increasingly harmonious relationship between Luzia and Paul drives Anton out into the jagged coastal landscape.

It is there that he meets the mysterious David, who is the same age as Anton. David is wild, impetuous and apparently fearless. He exposes Anton to a rule-free world. Anton is fascinated by David’s charisma, strength and self-confidence. Through David, Anton meets Katja and is instantly attracted to the 17-yearold girl. He senses that she is just as lost and neglected as he is. Katja and David, who apparently live alone in the neighbouring house, draw Anton into an increasing vortex of emotional confusion – where sexual awakening, subtle seduction and disconcerting violence all play a part. In this critical situation, both Luzia and Paul fail in their efforts to close the gap between themselves and Anton. In the wake of a nightmarish odyssey through the abyss of his own soul, Anton finds himself in an alarming state of reality.

Source: 60. Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin (Catalogue)