Beyond Words

This story, presented in clear-cut black and white, is not only a father-son drama, but also a reflection on themes such as identity and immigration. The perspective is unusual. Michael is not an underdog, but an immigrant who seems to have assimilated perfectly. Like his German friend and colleague/boss Franz, he feels at home in the hip clubs of Berlin. Until the unanticipated arrival of his dad puts everything topsy-turvy. Strangers to one another, they spend the weekend together, swinging back and forth between recognition, rejection and distrust. As a result of this confrontation with his origins, Michael plunges into a painful crisis.