Starring Sandra Hüller and Hanns Zischler and directed by Paweł Pawlikowski, Fatherland is in cinemas now. Additionally, you can check out the newly released clip from the MUBI film here.
MUBI is the global distributor, streaming service, and production company. It is delighted to share a new clip for Paweł Pawlikowski’s (Ida, Cold War) new film Fatherland. The film opens in UK and Irish cinemas today.
Written by Pawlikowski and Henk Handloegten, the film stars Academy Award-nominated Sandra Hüller (The Zone of Interest, Anatomy of a Fall) and Hanns Zischler (Munich, Germany Year 90 Nine Zero, Kings of the Road). It also stars August Diehl (A Hidden Life, Inglourious Basterds), Devid Striesow (All Quiet On The Western Front), and Anna Madeley (Patrick Melrose, All Creatures Great And Small).
THE PREMISE
FATHERLAND centers on the relationship between the Nobel Prize-winning writer Thomas Mann (Hanns Zischler) and his daughter Erika (Sandra Hüller) – actress, writer, and rally driver. In the summer of 1949, at the height of the Cold War, father and daughter embark on a challenging and emotional road trip in a black Buick. This journey takes them across a Germany in ruins – from US-dominated Frankfurt to Soviet controlled Weimar. Notably, returning home after sixteen years of exile in the US, Thomas Mann has to face not only a divided fatherland. He must also confront a deep fracture within his own family.
With FATHERLAND, Pawlikowski picks up where he left off with his award-winning Ida and Cold War. Consequently, he explores – in his elliptic, distilled style – the themes of identity, family, love, and guilt. This exploration happens amid the turmoil and confusion of post-war Europe.
CRITICAL ACCLAIM
Poland’s official selection for the Best International Feature Film at the 99th Academy Awards, the film has been praised by critics, with comments like:
“Another expansive, enriching work from a modern master” ★★★★★ Time Out
“Exquisitely well-judged drama” ★★★★★ The Times
“Impossibly elegant” ★★★★★ The Guardian
The Winner Of Best Director Award At This Year’s Cannes Film Festival, an Official Selection Of The 2026 Telluride Film Festival, 2026 New York Film Festival, and the 2026 BFI London Film Festival, our editor, Phil Roberts, saw the film and had this to say about it:
“Pawel Pawlikowski’s #FATHERLAND is a beautiful and haunting exploration of post-war Germany. Built around the quiet brilliance of Sandra Hüller, the film is an apt reminder of the scars of war.
Intimate, solemn, and engrossing, the film is a muted joy!”
Fatherland is in UK and Irish cinemas from today.
Introducing Carl! As the News Editor at Future of the Force, Carl has been an invaluable member of our team since early 2016. His expertise and dedication have made him an integral part of our editorial staff. Beyond his professional role, Carl is a fervent supporter of Liverpool F.C. and an avid follower of pop culture. He has a deep passion for Halloween, Friday the 13th, and the iconic movie franchises Star Wars and Star Trek.
He can be found either at his neighborhood cinema, enjoying the latest releases on the big screen, or at home streaming the newest blockbuster movies.
