Julia, a successful Viennese conductor, becomes pregnant after a fertility treatment, but once her long-awaited child arrives, she struggles to bond with the baby. She is increasingly drawn into a vortex of doubt and emotional distance, all while remaining unnoticed by those around her. An atmospheric psychological thriller about the dissonance between the expected joy of motherhood and the reality of a woman who slowly loses control amid overwhelming demands, isolation, and expectations. Starring the outstanding Marie Leuenberger in a captivating lead performance.
Trigger warning for viewers affected by postpartum mental health conditions.
The transition to motherhood (matrescence) is marked by profound physical, psychological, and social changes that are experienced very differently from person to person. In conversation with director Johanna Moder and co-writer Arne Kohlweyer, we discuss the contradictory experiences of becoming a mother, as well as the decision to portray them in a blend of drama, thriller, and horror. Anna Eichenberger (Sexuelle Gesundheit Baselland) provides expert insight into the reality and prevalence of postpartum mental health conditions, including depression and psychosis. She highlights where those affected and their support networks can find assistance and sheds light on the influence of complex societal expectations and assumptions surrounding motherhood.
Moderator: Marilyn Umurungi
A collaboration with Sexuelle Gesundheit Baselland
Location & Tickets: neues kino Basel, Klybeckstrasse 247, 4057 Basel | Single admission CHF 16.–, reduced rate CHF 12.– | No advance sales; tickets available at the box office.
Johanna Moder, Austria, Switzerland, Germany 2025,109 min OV*/E
