Full of idealism, Melanie, a young teacher from the countryside, starts her first job at a high school in the city. The daily school routine soon catches up with her, her idealism is challenged, things are much tougher than she had imagined. Apart from one colleague, Thorsten, who does his best to make her feel welcome, she has little contact with the rest of the staff, who are all much older and not really interested in new teaching methods. When she gets to know her neighbor, Tina, she seems to get in touch with her new surroundings. But her expectations are not fulfilled as quickly as she would hope. And the more Melanie tries to become Tina’s friend, the more Tina starts to hide. The forest surrounding Melanie starts to close in. Melanie begins desperately running in the wrong direction.

Maren Ade has been a student at the Academy of Television & Film (HFF/M) in Munich since 1998. Her films include: the shorts Ebene 9 (2000), Vegas (2001), and her first feature The Forest for the Trees (Der Wald vor lauter Baeumen, 2003).

Producers: Janine Jackowski Screenwriter: Maren Ade Cinematographer: Nikolai von Graevenitz Editor: Heike Parplies Music: Nellis Du Biel, Ina Siefert Cast: Eva Loebau, Daniela Holtz, January Neumann, Ilona Christina Schulz, Robert Schupp, Heinz Roeser Duemmig, Martina Eckrich, Nina fiddler, Hans Ruediger Kucich