This week at the movies: Clouds Are Made of Rain

Nadine knows she is dying. Her cancer is incurable, and the move to a hospice is inevitable. But the hardest farewell still lies ahead: that of her five-year-old son, Dexter. When he comes to visit, he recoils in fear - his mother's transformation is too strange, too frightening. Left alone, Nadine braces herself for the end. Until she meets Marion. With this spirited fellow patient, lightness enters the daily life of the hospice, and a friendship blossoms that gives Nadine new strength - and the courage to confront her fears and forge one last connection with her child. "Clouds Are Made of Rain" tells a story of closeness in the face of farewell, of the longing for connection, and of how much life can still be lived in the act of dying. Director Benjamin Kramme, who co-wrote the script with lead actress Jennifer Sabel, draws on personal experiences from social work and hospice care in his subtly and precisely crafted feature debut. The two share a long-standing creative collaboration, which is reflected in the film's sensitivity and emotional depth - further supported by Hildegard Schroedter in the role of Marion. At the 46th Max Ophüls Film Festival, "Clouds Are Made of Rain" was rightly awarded the prize for Socially Relevant Film; on October 9, Jennifer Sabel received the 2025 German Acting Award in the category "Best Dramatic Leading Performance."