EIFF: Afire
A procrastinating writer must face his insecurities in Christian Petzold’s sharp portrayal of creative hurdles.
Dir. Christian Petzold / Germany / 2023 / German with English subtitles
Leon (Thomas Schubert), a pretentious young writer struggling to finish the follow-up to his first book, embarks on a much-needed writing retreat in a seaside cottage with his best friend, a charmingly laissez-faire photographer. To the surprise of the duo, they arrive to find a mysterious woman, Nadja (played by the director’s frequent collaborator Paula Beer), staying at their place. Meanwhile, on the horizon, forest fires burn. The latest film from Christian Petzold (Phoenix, Barbara) comments on the subjectivities of passion with the same piercing soberness it uses to touch upon themes of insecurity and failure. The result is a sharp – and raucously entertaining — portrayal of the struggles of creatives, and one of the German auteur’s funniest films to date.
Rafa Sales Ross, Film Programmer
Lead actor Thomas Schubert will be in town to support the film.
Image gallery
A gallery carousel of 3 items
Enno Trebs (Devid) and Paula Beer (Nadja) in Afire
© 2023 Credit : Christian Schulz / Afire
Enno Trebs (Devid), Langston Uibel (Felix), Paula Beer (Nadja) and Thomas Schubert (Leon) in Afire
© 2023 Credit : Christian Schulz / Afire
Enno Trebs (Devid) in Afire
© 2023 Credit : Christian Schulz / Afire
Writer-director: Christian Petzold
Christian Petzold has managed to delicately handle such delicate concepts as spousal abuse, terrorism, and the Holocaust with artistry and tact. Energised by thoughtful, unique perspectives on such matters, Petzold allowed his films to contribute new ideas to old conversations, working with actors such as Nina Hoss and Paula Beer to transform what could have been lectures into engaging philosophical discussions.
The German director won the Silver Bear at the Berlinale for Barbara (2012) and Afire (2023) and has had six films in Competition there. Petzold also had films play in competition at London, San Sebastian, Venice, Thessaloniki and many others. He has won the German Film Critics Association Award for Best Film several times, and his most celebrated films include Wolfsburg (2003), Ghosts (2005), Yella (2007), Phoenix (2014), Transit (2018) and Undine (2020).
Producers: Florian Koerner von Gustorf, Michael Weber, Anton Kaiser
Cast: Thomas Schubert, Paula Beer, Langston Uibel, Enno Trebs
Sales Agent: The Match Factory
Distributor: Curzon Film
Read More
Siren Song, By Leonardo Goi // Reverse Shot
Burning Down The House: Christian Petzold on "Afire", Luise Mörke, Tobias Rosen // MUBI Notebook
Being Young in a World That’s Afire, by Alison Willmore // Vulture
Listen
Christian Petzold on Afire // Film at Lincoln Center Podcast
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Photo: Langston Uibel (Felix) and Enno Trebs (Devid) in Afire
© 2023 Christian Schulz / Afire