Canadian Premiere
After 14 years on the mainland, Hein makes his way back to a remote region of the North Sea, returning to the cloistered fishing village where he grew up. Upon his arrival, however, he goes unrecognized by his ailing mother, as well as his childhood friend Friedemann. Amid mounting suspicion and growing hostility, the community holds a three-day village court to verify the returnee’s identity. Desperate and confused, Hein gradually rediscovers that surviving in this community involves navigating — and mastering — a web of lies.
Recalling Lars von Trier’s Brechtian masterpiece Dogville, Kai Stänicke’s Trial of Hein unfolds with deliberate and pointed minimalism. Village houses consist mostly of facades; sets open out onto the forbidding exterior landscape; overhead shots limn the outlines of the methodical action. Anchored by a superbly controlled performance from lead actor Paul Boche, this is a film about the identities we keep hidden and the lies we tell in order to protect ourselves.
Teddy Jury Award: Perspectives, Berlinale 2026
Supported by
Paul Boche, Philip Froissant, Emilia Schüle, Stephanie Amarell, Aaron Hilmer, Irene Kleinschmidt
Germany
2026
In German with English subtitles
At The Cinematheque
At Fifth Ave
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Credits & Director
Producer
Andrea Schütte, Dirk Decker, Dario Suter
Screenwriter
Kai Stänicke
Cinematography
Florian Mag
Editor
Susanne Ocklitz
Production Design
Seth Turner
Original Music
Damian Scholl
Kai Stänicke
After studying film and training at X Filme Creative Pool, Kai Stänicke worked as an assistant director before moving into his own projects. His shorts have won recognition from Saatchi & Saatchi, Berlinale Talents, and Nespresso Talents, and his debut feature Trial of Hein (2026) received support from Berlinale’s Script Station and the Wolfgang Kohlhaase Scholarship.
Focus on New German Cinema: Extreme Tension
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Trial of Hein
After 14 years on the mainland, Hein returns to the cloistered fishing village where he grew up. But when he arrives, he goes unrecognized. Amid mounting suspicion and hostility, the community holds a three-day trial to verify his identity.
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