Jerichow

Jerichow, Christian Petzold, Germany, 2008, 93’

Three people stumble into a fateful encounter. Thomas, young and strong, has been dishonorably discharged from the army. Ali, an affable Turkish businessman, has seen some hard times but now his primary concern is making sure the employees of his snack-bars don't cheat on him. Laura, an attractive woman with a dark past, seems to find refuge in the shadows of her marriage to Ali.

Thomas, Ali, and Laura keep an eye on each other and keep their secrets to themselves. They want love but also security. They consider themselves independent, and what they desire can only be achieved by betrayal.

This drama unfolds on the country roads in desolate northeast Germany, where thick forests suddenly end on cliffs overlooking the Baltic Sea. The story is a classic cinematic constellation but with a daring new interpretation: caught between guilt and freedom, between passion and reason, there are wishes whose fulfillment can only mean escape.