How does individual trauma find its place in a country torn apart by war? Paweł Pawlikowski returns with “Fatherland,” a historical drama following writers Thomas Mann and Erika Mann on an emotional trip across Germany. Set in 1949, the journey unfolds as the country grapples with the aftermath of World War II and its new divisions during the Cold War. Meanwhile, father and daughter confront their own grief as the past seems to haunt every stop along the way.
Pawlikowski directs from a screenplay he co-wrote with Hendrik Handloegten. The celebrated filmmaker won Best Director at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, where “Fatherland” had its world premiere. The film later made its North American debut at Telluride. Mario Gianani, Lorenzo Mieli, Ewa Puszczyńska, Jeanne Tremsal, Edward Berger, Dimitri Rassam, and Lorenzo Gangarossa produced the project. Pawlikowski shared the Cannes directing prize for the film.
The film also relies on a formidable veteran cast. Sandra Hüller and Hanns Zischler star as Erika and Thomas, respectively, while August Diehl portrays Erika’s brother, Klaus Mann. Academy Award nominee Hüller recently co-starred in the blockbuster “Project Hail Mary” and can next be seen in Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s “Digger.”
The film’s official synopsis:
“At the height of the Cold War, Fatherland centers on the relationship between the writer Thomas Mann and his daughter Erika—actress, writer and rally driver—as they embark on a road trip in a black Buick cruiser across a Germany in ruins, from U.S. dominated Frankfurt to Soviet controlled Weimar.”
“Fatherland” opens in New York and Los Angeles on October 23. Before then, it will screen as part of the Main Slate at the 2026 New York Film Festival, including three October screenings. Watch the newly released trailer below.
- Valerie Thompson
- Valerie Thompson
- Valerie Thompson
