Ein Abend im Dezember

December Evening

Student Annika returns home for Christmas, but the anticipation of the family dinner is overshadowed by tensions: stepfather Thomas invites business partners, mother Monika is focused on sister Maya’s career, and uncle Detlef stirs things up with his comments. When Maya decides she’d rather celebrate with her boyfriend Barir, Annika covers for her with a lie.

But the news of an attack shakes the holiday dinner. Maya is unreachable—and as their fears grow, so do the cracks in the family’s façade. Accusations, mistrust, and long-suppressed conflicts emerge. The family idyll falls apart, word by word, glance by glance.

When Maya finally shows up unharmed, it seems the horror scenario is over—but what has been said remains. The façade may still be intact, but beneath it, the family is changed forever.

Source: 59. Internationale Hofer Filmtage 2025