Lord

Lord is 17 and lives with her single father in a block of flats on the outskirts of Hamburg. Not even a metro runs out here, and there’s not much to do at all. She’s struggling at school and, unlike her best friend, has no hope of a different, better future. Instead, she works works part-time making deliveries for a pharmacy. One of her rounds takes her to Betty, her new and slightly eccentric 78-year-old neighbour, who has fallen into poverty and is sick of life. When Lord coincidentally prevents her from attempting suicide, they develop a tender bond. Lord helps Betty navigate everyday life in her new surroundings, and Betty opens Lord’s eyes to a new perspective on the world. Directed by Caren Wuhrer, this coming-of-age drama about growing up and ageing in poverty and precarious circumstances strikes a balance between poetic realism and unvarnished candour, demonstrating that strength can be drawn from mutual solidarity and cohesion.