Urs is a doctor in a provincial German town, who can’t refrain from dictating the decisions of his 18-year-old daughter Jette. The two of them are engaged in a paradoxical gameplay of reversed stereotypes: Urs goes to great lengths to persuade Jette to spend her gap year as a volunteer at a Costa Rican hospital, in an effort to speed up her emancipation process, while Jette’s desire is to stay put and purposelessly hang out with her boyfriend. A humble coming-of-age story, in a witty blend of quotidian comedy and family drama, which reflects on the fierce battle of self-determination.
A Voluntary Year
Das freiwillige Jahr
60th TIFF: Greek Premiere
Screening Schedule
No physical screenings scheduled. |
- Direction: Ulrich Köhler, Henner Winckler
- Script: Ulrich Köhler, Henner Winckler
- Cinematography: Patrick Orth
- Editing: Laura Lauzemis
- Sound: Johannes Grehl, Rainer Gerlach, Matthias Lempert
- Actors: Maj-Britt Klenke, Sebastian Rudolph, Thomas Schubert, Stefan Stern
- Production: Sutor Kolonko
- Producers: Ingmar Trost
- Co-producers: Katrin Schlösser
- Art Direction: Ivana Vuković
- Costumes: Birgitt Kilian
- Sets: Pelin Gebhard, Ivana Vuković
- Format: DCP
- Color: Color
- Production Country: Germany
- Production Year: 2019
- Duration: 86΄
- Contact: Sutor Kolonko, info@sutorkolonko.de
Ulrich Köhler
Ulrich Köhler studied fine arts in France, as well as philosophy and visual communication at the University of Fine Arts in Hamburg, where he also made his first short films. His feature films Bungalow and Windows on Monday premiered at the Berlinale and won national and international awards in various festivals all over the world. His third movie Sleeping Sickness was also screened at the Berlinale, winning the Silver Bear for Best Directing at the Berlinale. His following film In my Room celebrated its premiere at the Cannes’ Un certain regard.
Filmography
2002 Bungalow
2011 Schlafkrankheit | Sleeping Sickness
2018 In my Room
2019 Das freiwillige Jahr | A Voluntary Year
2011 Schlafkrankheit | Sleeping Sickness
2018 In my Room
2019 Das freiwillige Jahr | A Voluntary Year
Henner Winckler
Henner Winckler studied visual communication and film at the Offenbach Art and Design University and the University of Fine Arts in Hamburg. He has worked as a teacher at the renowned KONRAD WOLF Film University, as well at the MetFilm School of Berlin. His feature films Klassenfahrt and Lucy were screened at numerous festivals (Forum Berlinale, London Film Festival, Karlovy Vary) and won international awards and critical acclaim.
Filmography
1993 Darlings (short)
2002 Klassenfahrt | School Trip
2006 Lucy
2019 Das freiwillige Jahr | A Voluntary Year
2002 Klassenfahrt | School Trip
2006 Lucy
2019 Das freiwillige Jahr | A Voluntary Year
