Elder Blossom

This documentary examines the East Prussian landscape and its diverse inhabitants, including Germans, Poles, Lithuanians, and Jews, who once lived together. Following World War II, the region transformed into a Russian enclave after the expulsion of Germans.

Volker Koepp's fourth film about the Kaliningrad region highlights the challenges faced by the generation born in the 1990s, who only know the Soviet Union and East Prussia from their history lessons. The film delves into the difficult circumstances of families that were forcefully resettled and now struggle with unemployment and alcohol dependency.

The narrative centers on the resilience of children, showcasing their daily lives as they support one another in the face of adversity. The story of Ljuda, who dreams of turning eighteen to retrieve her brothers from an orphanage, encapsulates the film's hopeful yet poignant exploration of childhood in a troubled region.