From the Award-Winning Director of Barbara Christian Petzold, Phoenix is a gripping story of identity and survival set amidst the reconstruction of Berlin in the immediate aftermath of WWII.
June, 1945. Badly injured, her face destroyed, Auschwitz survivor Nelly returns to her hometown, Berlin. She’s accompanied by Lene, a Jewish Agency employee and Nelly’s friend from pre-war days.
Having barely recovered from facial surgery, Nelly ignores Lene’s warnings and sets out to find her husband, Johnny – the love of her life who is convinced that his wife is dead.
When Nelly finally tracks him down, he recognizes nothing but an unnerving resemblance and doesn’t believe it could really be her.
Hoping to secure her family’s inheritance, Johnny suggests to Nelly that she take on the identity of his late wife.
Nelly agrees: She becomes her own imposter. She wants to know whether Johnny loved her – and whether he betrayed her. Nelly wants her old life back.
Official selection at the London film festival and Toronto film festival.
Phoenix will open in NZ cinemas April 14.
Competition now closed.
Rating: M Adult Themes
Junebaby - 8 years ago
Berlin