Trial of Hein (Der Heimatlose) | 2026 Berlin Intl. Film Festival Review
Far From Home: Stänicke’s Direction Leaves the Audience Marooned
How does one define their own home? Is it the place we were born? The place we grew up? Or a more abstract attribute like sexuality, self-acceptance or maybe even a hobby? In Kai Stänicke’s feature debut we focus on Hein (Paul Boche) returning to a tiny German island community 14 years after leaving for the mainland. The only problem is he appears to have physically changed quite a bit and no one seems to be wholly certain this is the young boy that left all those years ago. The village decides the best way to solve the issue of allowing Hein to return is a trial in order for him to prove himself to truly be Hein.… Read the rest
