The Forest For The Trees
KOMPLIZEN FILM IN CO-PRODUCTION WITH SWR TV, KAUFMANNWÖBKE GBR AND THE FILM ACADEMY MUNICH. 2003 | 35mm | 1:1.85 | Dolby SR | 81 min
Synopsis

Bursting with idealism, Melanie Pröschle (Eva Löbau), a young teacher from Swabia, idealistically starts her first job at a middle school in the city of Karlsruhe. She wants to bring a wind of change to school. But the older and experienced members of the teaching staff are irritated by Melanie's educational methods. The students quickly discover her weak points. A boy throws cocoa at her. It isn't easy to start a new life. It isn't easy to start a new life. Loneliness makes its presence felt. Obviously nobody was waiting for her in Karlsruhe.

But Melanie is not discouraged and establishes contact with her neighbour Tina (Daniela Holtz), whose boyfriend recently broke up with her. So any distraction is a welcome relief to Tina. But it soon becomes evident that Tina has enough friends. The more Tina withdraws from Melanie, the more Melanie intensifies her efforts to develop a friendship. With every attempt she makes to get closer to Tina, she oversteps another line, becoming increasingly entangled in lies, false hopes and self-abasement.

Cast
Melanie Pröschle Eva Löbau
Tina Schaffner Daniela Holtz
Thorsten Rehm Jan Neumann
Bine Nina Fiedler
Frau Sussmann Ilona C. Schulz
Tobias Robert Schupp
Lutger Reinhardt Heinz-Röser Dümming
Renate Pföhler Martina Eckrich
Gerd Postweiler Hans Rüdiger Kucich
Elvira Fischer-Walter Ruth Köppler
Bernd Achim Enchelmaier
Mutter Melanie Monika Hirschle
Vater Melanie Volker Jeck
crew
Written and directed by Maren Ade
Producers Janine Jackowski
Maren Ade
TV Producer Sabine Holtgreve (SWR)
Director of Photography Nikolai von Graevenitz
Set Design Claudia Schölzel
Art Director Eric Segol
Costume Design Gitti Fuchs
Christian Garcia
Editing Heike Parplies
Sound Jörg Kidrowski
Music Ina Siefert
Nellis du Biel
Award 2004
First Steps Award: Nominated for Best Feature Film
Media Award Babelsberg: Best Film
Cologne Conference: Best Film
2005
Nominated for the German Film Award: Best Film
Sundance Film Festival: Special Jury Award
Newport International Film Festival:
Best Feature Film
Best Actress Eva Löbau
Cine Jove Valencia Film Festival: Best Feature Film
IndieLisboa - International Independent Film Festival: Best Feature Film Grand Prize
Buenos Aires Independent Film Festival: Best Actress Eva Löbau
Theatrical Release Germany - Time Bandit Films (http://www.timebandits-films.de)
USA - The Film Movement (http://www.filmmovement.com)
Festivals 2003
Internationale Hofer Filmtage (Film Festival)
2004
Max-Ophüls-Preis Saarbrücken
Cologne Conference: New Talent Films
Tromsö International Film Festival
Toronto International Film Festival: Discovery
Vancouver Film Festival
Valladolid International Film Festival
Cairo International Film Festival
Internationales Studentenfilmfestival München: Eröffnungsfilm
(International Student Film Festival Munich: Opening Film)
Kinofest Lünen (Film Festival Lünen)
2005
Sundance Film Festival: World Dramatic Competition
Göteburg Film Festival
Hong Kong International Film Festival
International Film Festival of Uruguay
Women's Film Festival in Seoul
Buenos Aires Independent Film Festival: Competition
San Francisco Film Festival
Independent Film Festival Lisboa: Competition
Newport International Film Festival: Emerging Filmmakers
Sydney International Film Festival: Competition
New York BAM: Best Film of Year 2005
Jerusalem International Film Festival
Los Angeles IFP
20th Cinema Jove International: Competition
Munich Film Festival
Cambridge Film Festival: Competition
Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival
Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival
Northern Lights Film Festival
2006
Soluthurner Filmtage (Film Festival)
Distribution/World Distribution Distribution: Time Bandit Films (http://www.timebandits-films.de)
World Distribution: Atrix Films (http://www.atrix-films.com)
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