Original subtitles

Do you think what Samira said last week was true?

What?

The thing about... souls.

That sometimes they don't realize they're dead.

And wander the earth.

Yes.

And that they need guidance...

to help them escape from the trap they're in?

Yes.

What does that mean, guidance?

A counterpart.

You need to be able to mirror yourself to let go.

Why?

It's all a kind of parable.

What does that mean?

We need to understand

that we're never really alone.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Breakfast.

Breakfast is ready. Are you coming?

Soon. I will finish sewing your dress.

Thank you!

Breakfast.

Are you coming?

Yes.

So my dears,

I wish you all health and happiness.

Health and happiness!

I need to go to the job center today.

You, too?

I'm still waiting.

For how much longer?

Until it's time.

God willing.

Are you my mother?

THE LIGHT

See you later.

- Hello. - Hello.

And extra rice,

and summer rolls...

and chopsticks.

Thank you.

This target group's agenda still seems vague.

Are these individuals interested

in taking part in transforming society

and will they therefore consume ethical products?

Or does the journey take us farther back

to a situation where, for this substantial target group,

we have yet to create a fresh awareness for social renewal?

The latter, of course.

What?

Listen to yourself talk!

What do you mean?

Awesome. But...

you're just rewording the problem.

We're not even done yet.

And already no one's listening.

That's not true.

How about some patience?

We're talking about roughly 2 billion people,

living withdrawn,

in high numbers, on diffuse urban outskirts,

disconnected from the political, meaning

the social and economic developments of their country,

and therefore feeling lost.

After all, who gives a damn?

Nobody.

Exactly. Nobody gives a damn.

Yes?

What do lost people need?

Stability.

Obtained how?

Excuse me, please.

By positive goals.

The task is

to motivate these people to deal with the future

without being scared off by it.

Exactly. But how?

Without scaring them off?

With everyone predicting the apocalypse.

Statistics show

these people are indifferent to that.

That's the easy part. Some are even against it!

Against what, again?

Against stopping this disaster. Or containing it, at least!

You sound like a social democrat official.

Guys, I want to turn up the heat on that sluggish, stubborn mob out there.

Their own ignorance needs to fly in their face. Let's finally throw out

the narrative of the nice-guy entrepreneur.

We'll get nowhere with that.

Sorry. Simone? Can I call you back?

No, not now. I'll call you back, okay?

Our job is to bombard all the bad media

with good information.

A fact-based double spread in a tabloid,

a public interest campaign in I'm a Celebrity, Get me out of Here,

a podcast with likes from Helene Fischer and Billie Eilish.

And that's why, as of now, our domain and our website are history.

At least until we've done away with

all the lostness, all the indifference,

and all the “Count me out!” bullshit.

Frieda, finally!

The woman at the bar was drunk.

Hey, I really have to pee!

Me too!

Me too.

Frieda?

Acid?

Greetings from the kitchen.

What time is it?

Tick-tock-tick-tock...

Simone, right. I'm sorry...

But I was with this contractor and he's such a nuisance.

What?

Are they nuts? We've already started construction.

Yes!

I know, but it won't go any faster.

We're in East Africa, not Dubai.

We have to turn it around.

Anyway, I'm on my way.

Well, today.

Yeah, I'm on the way to the airport. Why?

Yeah. I'll wait.

Milena Engels here.

No...

I'm not an employee of the ministry,

but it funds all projects I supervise.

Yes.

Please don't forward me...

Hello?

That's me.

NOW! THE POWER OF THE PRESENT

All who have not yet found their true wealth...

When do we go dance?

I still need a moment.

Me too.

It's kind of nice too... here at the bar with you guys.

It's always nicest with you guys,

no matter where.

You bet.

Leave everything exactly like it is...

right now.

This very moment, you are connected to something immense, indestructible.

Careful.

Thank you.

Hang on.

Cash payment.

- Sorry? - 21,60.

HQ says the credit card didn't work.

Jon!

Jon!

Keep the change.

Thank you.

Do you want to play?

100 YEARS FIGHTING FOR DEMOCRACY

BERLIN'S ENDANGERED ANIMALS

Where to now?

To the base, of course.

I need to go home.

Hell, why?

I need to sleep.

We've been out since Thursday.

Today is Saturday.

But only Saturday morning.

Guys, Frieda is old enough.

We'll walk you home.

Frieda wants to go home.

Frieda wants to go home so we bring her home.

You sure?

Safe?

Safe with my heart in your hands.

Frieda?

Frieda?

Quick shower, then I'll come to the office.

What happened?

Maja.

At last.

What's up with you?

I didn't sleep much, sorry.

I dreamed, Mum.

I was a horse.

I was running.

I thought it would be beautiful.

I didn't have a destination.

And then, I was suddenly sitting on the horse.

I was trying to calm it,

but it got wilder and wilder... - And there was a good restaurant

and the cook at the door shouting

"This way! It's delicious!".

And the horse...

When is your appointment?

No point anyway.

We will stay here...

forever.

Not forever.

Forever is relative.

I know.

But I am hopeful today.

Why?

Last night's storm brought something with it.

What can I say, Antje?

I just fell out of a plane.

And now I'm on my way to the family with the police.

Like... in an hour?

Just be happy I'm back at all.

Yeah, call you later.

Georg, I don't buy it.

You're the best couple the world's ever seen.

Everyone looks up to you as an example.

The only ones who came through.

Kids, cheating, therapy,

menopause, breast cancer,

haemorrhoids...

And I've always been proud of that.

Still, it's over.

I already moved out.

What?

So fast?

Fast?

After 26 years?

I spent half my life with this woman,

including 3 kids, 2 bankruptcies, and 7,000 shouting contents.

Nobody can tell me I haven't given it my all!

What happened?

Nothing.

And that's the problem.

What about you, Tim?

When you're already home and your wife comes in -

how does she greet you?

Or does she even?

Does she take a moment

to look at you

and show you she's happy to see you?

Is there decent eye contact, at least?

Do you get a kiss?

If so, what kind?

A "Don't dare touch me" kiss?

Ora "Common you with your romantic ideas!" kiss?

Or is it a prompt for stuff like

You smell funny.

Honey, you need to shower.

Whatever version,

if it's always just that or a variation,

then for sure that isn't the person whose cane

you want to be grabbing from the closet one morning,

before making her porridge.

And here she is...

I always answer.

Yes?

We need to have dinner. Together.

Just the two of us?

No, all of us.

- All four of us. - Right.

Five, even.

Four or five?

It's B-week,

so four.

Today?

- But you have to cook. - I can't cook.

Yes, you can. Spaghetti mix.

Very funny.

Then order out. Asian.

No, the Greeks'.

No, let's do sushi.

Whatever.

By all means.

- If I'm out anyway should I... - Bye.

You're bad.

So?

When did you have sex last?

No idea.

New Year's Eve?

What are you resisting?

I just don't want to always have to meet expectations.

How about redefining expectations as desires?

That's what Tim always says.

It's not about expectations. It's about desires.

And?

I don't know...

I don't want to be a desire-fulfillment machine either.

You added the machine bit.

Do you think I have attachment disorder or something?

Almost everyone who comes here has attachment issues.

Everything okay?

Just some rash I have...

In our first session, you told me

that you often find your husband's advances exhausting,

sometimes even annoying, or a harassment.

And, at the same time, that you felt you should feel

bad or ashamed about it.

Well, that's when he comes and

wants to give me a hug,

it always feels, like, ambiguous.

And then... I don't want it.

And why not?

It's like a scheduled event needing to be ticked off.

Since when is this?

I don't know, it just happened.

Any event you remember that might have...?

Oh, sure. The kids.

Yes.

When the kids were born.

You mean when you gave birth to your children.

Yes.

Two at once, after all.

I thought I could handle it all, but then...

I couldn't, after all.

What exactly?

The responsibility. Assuming it.

I felt so alone with it.

That's something every mother goes through.

It often has major, even traumatic, consequences.

The shift from power to powerlessness.

What?

The power to freely shape your own life

gives way to a profound powerlessness

of realizing that the woman,

for a frighteningly long time,

will no longer have a self-determined life.

Yeah, right, but we all need to get through it.

And it's almost 18 years ago now.

The kids are grown up.

But it seems to me you haven't dealt with the issue yet.

If it becomes traumatic,

a problem like this can

greatly affect our behavioural patterns.

How did childbirth go?

Of the twins? Terrible.

They just wouldn't come out,

and I had to have an emergency caesarean.

Then something went wrong with the anesthesia,

I suddenly went numb up to my neck.

I was completely paralyzed.

I couldn't even swallow anymore.

I thought

I was going to suffocate.

Then, all of a sudden, I saw everything from above.

From above?

Like I was already up there, under the ceiling, outside of my body.

Like, I was up there.

I could see everything from up there.

And it was fine.

Not bad at all.

My body was down there.

So were my children.

And Tim.

Your husband was present?

Yes, of course.

Where is he anyway?

Can you remember how you came back down from up there?

Or when?

Or if at all?

That's him.

It's quarter past six. What a moron.

Hello, Mr. Engels.

I'm really sorry. I misjudged.

Would you like to hang up your things and settle down?

Done. I'm settled.

Good, then have a seat.

The question usually belongs at the start of couple therapy

but I saved it for today.

Have you both come to me to stay together

or to break up?

Stay together of course.

- Hi, Tim. - Hi, Godfrey.

- Hi, Tim. - Is it our turn?

Isn't it B-week?

Can we come in?

Oh right. Sure.

I know this is a bit sudden,

but I need to fly to Nairobi, first thing in the morning.

Did you call Millie?

No... I...

Okay.

You know him. It'll be fine.

Fine.

No, no!

This just isn't my thing.

Damn spaghetti.

Should've taken out some Asian or Greek...

or sushi.

I didn't say you could have that.

What's up, Dio?

I have a new song.

Really?

I know that one.

So now I caused an office crisis

for booking a plane ticket on my own

that the entire ministry wasn't capable of.

Economy, middle seat, 500 euros.

What's the crisis?

It's non-refundable. It's now my bill.

That's tragic.

Hello.

Mummy!

What are you doing here?

Dio, my baby!

Has your daddy made off again?

He needed to go home.

To Kenya?

Mamma mia. I see.

The good thing is

my little Dio sweetheart

is here in the kitchen with me.

What did you say?

Mamma mia?

It's something you say when you're happy, for instance.

Everything okay?

My neck is tense. Here.

It's not tragic what they put me through, by the way.

Just typical and humiliating.

Or would they ever give big-head Lehmbruck the same treatment?

He's a state secretary. You're a freelancer-ess.

- No, he's a man and I'm his foot-woman. - Foot-woman?

- Isn't footman gender-open? - Nope. But douche bag is.

- Well, I'm not a douche bag. - Not you, him.

Well then, how about a hello kiss?

Where are the kids?

There's one.

- I'm here! - Yes, hooray!

- And the rest? - No idea. In their rooms?

Wasn't that your job?

I called them but they didn't pick up. So I texted them.

How late-modern.

Tried knocking on their doors?

- I stopped doing that ages ago. - Unbelievable.

Jon?

Yeah?

Join us for dinner?

Okay.

There you go.

Frieda!

Great idea falling asleep with a candle burning.

Daughter suffocates, mother arrested, flat goes up in smoke, parents divorced.

We have no household insurance. No insurance, period.

We won't even have a pension.

Senselessly self-employed.

The kids will never earn money because they don't know how.

Everyone ruined.

For lack of responsibility.

Can't you even speak German to your mother?

I know Canada was a thousand times better

and here it's so terrible.

What's going on?

Please, Frieda, come on. It's important.

Dad's done the cooking.

Something else must have happened in four days maternal absence...

- Hey, Dio. - Frieda!

You didn't leave the flat once since I left?

It was a tournament battle.

You train for it, you play, then you sleep.

What are we having?

Pasta.

Just plain, nothing else?

I can't right now.

Put it on his desk.

He needs to sign it tonight.

Go over to the Grill

and slam it on his schnitzel.

I'm serious.

Is that butter?

Nope.

I'm lactose intolerant as you've known for 20 years.

Don't you want to know if I won?

Did you?

Yes.

Congrats!

Thank you.

Listen up.

I want us to talk to each other again.

I've thought a lot.

I didn't even know her last name.

Maja. I didn't know her surname.

Did you?

We didn't know her.

None of us did.

It wasn't like that.

I did know her a bit...

You'd always just leave!

Afraid she'd bend your ear.

That's not true.

You said so yourself!

Don't ask any questions,

or she'll never shut up.

- There's some truth... - But now she's dead!

How about we finally realise how broken a situation our lives are in!

Totally disconnected

from the world, from others, from each other anyway!

That's why we're here right now.

The perfect example of a family destroying this world.

We're selfish, and ignorant, and

wasteful, and vulgar.

We heat with gas that we demonize.

We have a holiday home no one uses.

Mum takes a plane 5 times a month, while Dad blurts out to the world

that flying should be illegal.

We unscrupulously exploit all privileges of white, western better-offs.

We get organic wine online since the corner wine shop went bust,

Which is due to everyone buying their wine online!

- It's so fucked up. - We order out for food,

Dad orders his smokes,

sometimes just the skins for his joints, from food riders.

We're why the world is so fucked!

Not the people we're constantly slagging off!

Us!

We are why the world is on the brink!

Not the others, always our scapegoats!

Us!

Our lives are selfish, and ignorant, and wasteful, and vulgar.

We continue to exploit all our privileges

reserved for the West,

and claim that it's the others to blame

for our planet being on the brink...

These others, that's us.

It's time to take responsibility.

In our personal, private, intimate living space,

in every situation of our everyday lives.

Because it's us who screwed up.

It's us who must change everything now, not tomorrow.

We are why the world is on the brink.

Not the others.

Us.

#US

There's quite a few new job offers.

Doorkeeper services, driver.

Since you won't do catering anymore.

Much better, here:

medical-technical assistant in an ENT practice.

They'd take you, with your Arabic skills.

I know, I know...

You want housekeeping, no matter what.

Take that one, then.

You earn less,

no career opportunities,

a dead end.

You're highly educated,

fluent in three languages,

once a medical professional in Aleppo, yet you'd rather clean?

You drive me crazy.

I'll take it.

No, you won't!

Yes, I will.

Hello.

Hello.

Didn't we assign a different amount in the budget?

Then I instinctively did the right thing.

I applied in advance for a budget extension.

Are you coming?

I have to go.

I know you're on your own,

but I'll come over tomorrow, and we'll finish it up.

Thanks, dear Antje.

Sorry.

- Farrah? - Farrah.

- Milena. - A pleasure.

Likewise. This is Dio.

Hi, Dio.

Bohemian Rhapsody.

Are you okay?

Medicinal clay. For an irritable bowel.

I'm Frieda.

Farrah.

Farrah. Nice name.

This is Jon, Frieda's twin brother.

And Tim.

This is Farrah.

Not even today a fresh pair of trousers?

Why?

Look at you.

What?

- Same as always. - Exactly.

Mum...

We're going to a funeral!

Yes, exactly. Black.

Whatever. Nice to meet you.

We're off to a funeral, which is why we look like this,

and are a little muddled.

Right. Thanks.

So, sit down everyone.

You get to experience a rare moment:

seeing all... five of us together in one place.

A rare occasion.

Fine.

There's a lot to say about our family,

about how we are, what kind of routines we have.

Yeah but we have no routine.

We're a typical, dysfunctional, German family.

Everyone does their own thing and doesn't give a shit about the others.

I'm sorry about that.

Your German is so good.

How come?

My people have a gift for language.

Syrians in general?

Yes.

But my husband studied German literature.

So I've been living with the German language for 20 years.

And how long have you been in Germany?

Almost five years.

And your family?

Do you have kids?

The taxi's here already.

Seriously?

We're late?

I can't believe it.

My condolences.

Condolences.

Condolences.

My sincere condolences.

My condolences.

I'm so sorry.

My sincere condolences.

Excuse me?

Who are you?

Who am I?

What do I know?

I am me.

I'm not she.

Who I am not

I'm just not.

Who am I?

What do I know?

I am me.

I'm not she.

Who I'm not

I'm just not.

I am me.

I'm not she.

I am here.

Or there?

Or there?

I am here.

I'm still there.

It's not true.

I am here.

Or there?

Or there?

Not for me.

Also not for you.

That's not me.

I am not.

Look.

I'm holding your hands as if we knew each other very well.

But I don't even know you anymore.

We've known each other forever.

You know that.

Nothing can separate us anymore.

We have grown into each other, like trees

that stand very close to each other

and whose roots have merged into an underground network

that can't be disentangled.

But there is a wall.

Between us.

I know.

I will get through the wall. I swear.

Hello, Jon.

Hello.

Farrah.

Your room's locked.

Am I not allowed in?

No.

Well.

I don't know.

What does that mean?

'Oh my goodness'?

Yes.

Oh, you have a...

Know what it is?

Sort of.

How come?

What are you playing?

Transportal.

It's nice.

Move your head.

Yeah, right...

Here.

Use this to move.

But how?

Like this.

To the left.

And to the right.

You have to catch those elements.

Like this.

Pass it to the gate builder.

Her?

Yes.

You have to fill out this gate?

Yes.

How many players per team?

Four.

It's a demo.

But when you play for real,

each player is controlled online by someone somewhere in the world.

Yes, I know.

How?

My son told me.

Ah, your son.

How old is he?

17.

Cool.

Me too.

I know.

What's going on now?

Oh that.

It's a gimmick.

At the end, the winners escort the defeated through the gate.

Where to?

Just to another league.

Can you teach me the game?

Sure.

Hello?

I'm late. I'm to pick up my daughter.

Your name?

Engels,

Tim Engels.

I was here last week for a first consultation.

Frieda, yes.

No worries,

surgery took longer than expected anyway.

Why?

Frieda.

- Frieda. - Excuse me?

I'm her father.

Please wait in the waiting room.

During counseling, the person seeking an abortion has rights.

She may not be urged in a certain direction.

The woman decides for herself what happens to her body.

Mr. Engels?

Please sign here.

Why? Again?

Your daughter is still a minor.

Oh, right.

Still...

Hard to believe.

Most parents see it the other way round.

Hey, honey.

Hi, Dad.

Hello. Just a moment.

I want you to take this seriously.

We had severe problems stopping the bleeding

because you didn't tell us what substances you've been using.

If you can't trust me,

who can you trust?

Your father?

I feel very weak.

May I go now, please?

Of course.

Let's go.

Thank you.

Is she...?

Talk to her.

Goodbye.

How are you?

I'm okay.

Can we go home please?

What are you doing?

Calling a taxi.

The taxis are on strike today.

Seriously?

How did you get here then?

They said there were complications.

Not now, please.

What happened?

Is this one of yours?

The claim, yeah.

What's a claim again?

That there.

#US

Why do you still walk around like some leftist intellectual

if you work for companies

that are destroying our planet?

What's this about?

Tell me.

Frieda, not this conversation again.

Your new default answer for any kind of criticism.

Serious critics take a closer look at their subject

before making sweeping judgments without substance.

The subject's name is Tim Engels, is sitting next to me, and is my father.

Exactly.

Okay, here's my closer look:

The company burning you out

is a neo-liberal raiding squad in a tree-hugger's disguise

doing one shady compromise after another.

What's wrong? You with the CP now?

With who?

You sound like a Stalinist agitator.

I'm asking!

You always said I could ask you anything I want.

But you don't answer anymore.

What a...!

Frieda?

Frieda!

Everything okay?

Yeah!

Coming out anytime soon?

I need to clean the bathroom.

Is that why you're waiting for me?

Yes.

You've been showering for an hour and a half.

I've brought some ice tea.

Like some?

Yes, it hurts.

Here.

Did you say goodbye?

I don't know.

Do you want to?

What do you mean?

Are you ready?

Yes.

So,

think of the being you weren't ready to receive yet.

Explain to it why not.

Be full of love.

It will understand you.

Hi.

Hello.

Have you got acquainted with the lamp?

Yeah.

Good for you.

Do you all do that light-thing?

Of course.

Yes, of course.

Farrah is a bit nuts.

But the lamp is good.

But someone must be able to reinstate the money.

They approved it!

Yes, but as a special item.

It needed to be spent this year.

But construction is going too slowly for that.

And if we don't spend it next year's budget will cut it out.

Do you understand this logic?

Sure.

Sure, he says.

They're red-taping us to death.

Doesn't that make a rookie want to scream?

Gernot is 45 and the new division manager.

He's aged well then.

Thank you, likewise.

Can you hold this for a second?

Is everything okay?

Conjunctivitis. It'll be fine.

The price paid for this insanity.

It's a normal process in development policy.

But you can't approve a grant and withdraw it without warning.

Unspent funds can be withdrawn.

It's the worst-case scenario.

If granted money isn't spent by the end of the year,

the budget is reduced accordingly the next year.

Uh oh, His Royal Highness.

I'll try my luck.

These shoes are killing my feet.

Give me your number.

0190332332.

Very funny.

Try harder then.

What's your name again?

Gernot.

Like my uncle.

Know its origin?

No.

“Ger” comes from “spear”. “Not” from “knothon,”

meaning “brandish”.

Oh yeah?

Spear-brandishing Gernot.

Right, Milena...

You know how it works.

Why are we on first-names?

Bad moment after all.

He can't talk now.

Why not?

They're in crisis mode.

This is what we'll do.

OK, we'll create a new project from the old one and backdate it.

We can get it into the next budget session.

What? When?

In one week.

- Can you do that? - What?

Re-submit the application.

The whole thing?

All over again?

Do you want to build your theatre in this slum or not?

So Antje, we're re-submitting the application.

You need to call Jolene and that stupid contractor.

We need all documents again with a new date.

Yes.

Okay, bye.

Coffee?

I'd prefer tea.

Black, green, or mixed?

I brought some. Would you like to try?

Aren't we on a first-name basis?

Sure.

Milena.

Farrah.

I thought we could tell each other about who we are,

where we come from,

and what moves us.

Good.

Now?

Now.

Right.

I was born in 1985

in Damascus,

when the average birth rate in Syria was still seven children per family.

- Seven? - Yes.

But my parents only had one.

Me.

And right after that, my father died.

I don't remember him at all.

But going by what my mother told me about him I might have been lucky.

My mother had her mind set on me studying. Going into science.

She was a nurse.

She started her career at a psychiatric clinic,

and so I found my vocation at a young age.

Mental illnesses.

That's the official name for it here.

But I'm not committed to a particular school of thought.

There's interesting knowledge everywhere.

When I was accompanying my husband on research to Austria

I came across a whole new area of research,

or let's say... source of insight.

And that is?

I'll tell you about it another time.

Later.

But why are you here and your family isn't?

Or why do you clean house instead of having your own practice?

I don't have a license to practice here.

So I wouldn't get a permit to open my own practice.

Either way,

when the Arab Spring broke out

we took to the streets.

We genuinely believed that it was possible to fix the system.

That Assad's government

would change its mind or resign.

That spring had a different impact on every country.

In Syria, it went particularly badly.

We had to flee to my husband's city of birth,

to the north, to Aleppo.

The twins could still go to school there.

I worked in a hospital that was bombed.

When our house was hit,

things became especially dangerous for Karim, my husband.

We knew he was on the secret police's list

and we had to hide in the countryside to the north.

It was too risky for him and the children to flee abroad,

but, at the same time, we were running out of both food and perspectives.

So, I went on my own.

Escape.

But how?

By truck,

and ship,

and then on foot.

And I was lucky.

Only because I'm here are they able to survive.

- What is that? - It's our flat.

- And that? - That's your room.

Oh, nice.

- And that? - That's Dad's room.

- And that? - That's Tim's room.

But Tim and I sleep in the same bed.

Yes, you can go over to his room if you want.

But...

then I have to go through Godfrey's room every time I want to be with Tim.

Yes.

Tim can come to you, too.

And Dad.

Yes.

Sure.

Sorry, sorry, I just had...

too much stuff...

So, what should we do with the remaining 15 minutes?

15 minutes?

It's 6:45. Our appointment was at 5.

My God. Maybe I should just go.

No, no, just suggest something.

I can't right now.

What about this behaviour?

Your tendency to be late?

Hopeless case.

I've been like this since birth. Two weeks late, even then.

You miss out on a lot that way.

- Maybe that's how I want it. - Really?

No. Nonsense.

I hate it. But I can't get it right.

I think I try to give the impression that things don't interest me that much.

Why?

Probably to keep a safety margin.

A safety margin from what?

From people.

I like to be impressive, but non-committal.

I like to leave my mark,

but without taking responsibility.

That sounds like a rehearsed text.

I'm a text machine. And you're not my first therapist.

What do you expect from our sessions?

Are you ready to be more specific?

I'm far more insecure than most people think.

On the one hand, that's useful, but on the other,

I don't feel seen.

I'd like to change that.

The insecurity or the wrong idea people have of you?

"People" is actually not terribly specific.

Who exactly do you mean then?

Millie, of course.

Your wife should get to know your insecurity better to heal it?

That would happen if she showed more interest in me.

Can you be a little more specific?

- About what? - What you wish from your wife.

Yes...

That...

she looks at me,

asks questions,

takes nothing for granted,

gets me.

That she perceives me.

As a friend.

As a confidant.

As a guy. As a man.

As an object, too.

As a body.

Where has it gone, that thing that was once my body?

It's so hard to pretend I no longer have a body.

Subject, object, if unchecked, then there's no place here

For my longing, only escape, and what remains is a pet.

Give it back to me, that nice item it's my body after all

It's not like I'm a clone, testosterone, I'm pretty sure I'm all done.

All I am is wind, a child longing for a goodnight kiss,

fall asleep, wake up

And scream, I need optimism

Jon! Jon!

Now pass it back.

Good. Now you.

Now, one-two!

Wait. I need a break.

It's exhausting.

Well, yeah...

Thank you for getting this.

It was on Ebay for a bullseye. I only had to repair one glass.

A bullseye?

"Fuffy".

"Fuffy"?

50.

Cents?

Euros.

No problem.

I won 2,000 dollars at the last tournament.

2,0007?

- I'll give you a moment... - No.

Hi. You there?

Is that her?

The one you were talking about?

Well then...!

I'm back.

What are you up to?

Training.

Me too. That's what made me think of you.

I've been thinking about something.

What?

Want to meet up?

I'm not opening the door until you've answered her.

Well?

If you go, I'll go too.

That must be Dad.

Sorry, Dio.

- Hello. - Hello.

Hello, Jon.

Hello, Godfrey.

Sorry. We were...

distracted.

Bye for now.

Put on your seat belt please, Dio.

"UN forwards another 30 million dollars to Syria for humanitarian purposes".

Don't they understand anything?

Should they stop giving?

Of course.

The UN is a useless bureaucratic monstrosity.

They throw a little money at a crisis country...

and absolve themselves of all responsibility.

Karim!

Sorry.

It all just makes me sick.

I know.

Something must happen or I'll go mad.

It will. I promise.

Your hope isn't enough.

- But it has to be! - Why?

We're dead in here anyway.

Stop it!

Don't you dare.

It's a rocky road.

But we will walk it.

I'm getting there.

You there.

Over there.

You there. Good.

Everything alright?

One after the other.

Watch out, they're coming!

YOUR IGNORANCE OUR DEATH DANCE

Photo!

YOUR IGNORANCE OUR DEATH DANCE

This morning, a group of young activists...

It looks so real.

- The blockage lasted 6 hours... - Everyone can see us.

Under the motto "Your ignorance our death dance",

they hung themselves from a bridge in the morning rush hour.

The activists, mostly minors,

were released after their identities were established.

Extremely intense.

We did it!

Frieda.

What do you want?

I'll come back later.

No. Come on in.

But only for a second...

Done.

Farrah?

Yes?

I think I have a disorder.

A sexual disorder.

Why do you think that?

I don't want to have any.

- Sex? - Yeah.

But sex can be nice.

Yes, so I've heard. Somewhere.

What experiences have you already had?

Not a whole lot.

Once a year and a half ago,

and then again three months ago.

And after that I already got pregnant.

But was it good? The sex?

Why not'?

Because I have a sexual disorder.

Makes sense.

It does, doesn't it?

Well...

First, you need to know your wishes and desires.

Do you know yours?

Do you ever think about sex?

Yes. I think about it.

And what do you think of?

I'm... somehow...

Can I help you?

No.

You know, I...

Oh dear, oh dear...

I can do this...

Sorry!

Hi, Mum.

Everything okay?

Just fine.

Fridge phoned you, did it?

What's up, sweetheart?

Sweetheart.

You haven't called me that in ages.

Still, you're my sweetheart.

Because Farrah is here,

you play the loving mother,

that you're really not.

Because you think it's what your audience wants to see.

Damn it...

Then why don't you finally get out?

You stupid, crackpot, fucking cow

who can only bitch.

For 17 years, you've been bitching at me

without seeing shit of what anyone does for you.

You have no idea how hard it was to raise you

and put up with your constant bickering.

And to keep on bearing it, lovingly and patiently.

But still you kept on whining, and whining, and whining.

So sweet, little cheeky Frieda,

always grouching just like her Daddy does.

Yeah right! Ever thought about why I pick those fights?

I can't wait for you to get your lazy butt out of here.

Something was always more important than your daughter!

This miserable, unending stream of shit

you've been firing at me since birth will finally end!

Then you can go on seeing your Daddy

who you get on with so much better

than with me even though he didn't give a shit about you when you were little!

It was me who carried you in my arms around the flat all night.

Me who changed your nappies

when you were too lazy to go to the loo even when you were 5!

I did your homework with you

that you never never wanted to do. It was me who...

That's the most important thing for you, performance, performance, performance...

Are you there? Hi?

And what did you get out of it?

You know nothing about, nor do you understand anything about me.

Not even that I just aborted a baby.

What?

We tried to throw out all reactive figures of thought

and focus our imagination

not on how we can best serve future life

but on how we can reinvent it.

Tim?

Right, it's not about so-called conditions of employment.

In the new future, life and work will be integrated.

You are empowered to create, modify, and interpret your work space.

Because you know what it takes

to bring your productivity to the table without vanishing behind it.

Work as key building block of our identity is out the window.

Our multi-faceted actions become part of a swarm-intelligent existence.

We is the swarm.

WE IS THE SWARM

You did good today.

Like most of the time.

You, too.

As rarely.

So what do we do with the unfinished evening?

It's 11.

Right, exactly.

Take you home?

That's not nothing.

Race you?

This way.

It's a red light!

No!

Good evening, gentlemen.

Gentlemen? That came out fast. But we're

one gentleman and one lady.

How silly, thank you.

We don't need a lesson in gender studies.

But you need one in traffic regulations.

Oh yeah?

That light wasn't even a bit green.

Nothing but red.

And what now?

120 euros fine and a penalty point on your license.

You can't be serious.

Not me, it's he.

She likes her rhymes, especially when it comes to gendering.

We don't really think this is adequate, do we?

Let's see some ID then.

Hey! Stop!

You live here?

Yeah. There.

Come on.

Wait a sec.

What?

This has all been awesome but...

You know, it's exactly what's missing from my marriage.

Maybe one more reason not to pass on it elsewhere?

Yeah, but I want to fix it.

For love?

For love.

Then so may it be.

Nightie-night.

Millie?

Millie?

What is it?

It all needs to change.

I'm all in favour of renewal.

Tim...

I can't do this anymore.

I can. Always.

Cut the bullshit please.

I want to finally get this sorted...

that we...

No...

How can you always run away?

You can spin even the most bad-ass corporate stooges,

you give the biggest douche bags the most outrageous speeches

to foist your product on them,

but when your wife wants to talk to you

about her everyday problems

trite to you maybe, but existential for her -

and it's our everyday, therefore also yours, just as a reminder,

you run away.

Too much for you, eh?

Clean up your own backyard? Not you.

All the nifty rhetoric won't hack it here.

It just takes a walk when the shit really hits the fan!

But whenever you need something?

When you're so in need?

Then nothing can wait.

Quicky-quicky, consumey-consumey, lovey-dovey!

Maid first floor and service!

Service is king! And pronto, please!

Oh yes!

Or else the good ol' complaint machine goes off. Day and night.

About too little of this, too little of that.

Not enough cuddling,

not enough closeness, love and caring...

I'm not your mummy, dude!

Stop right there.

Stay where you are!

You having fun?

Just because little Milena figured something out, finally?

Which penny has dropped?

Your job that's totally overwhelming you?

The self-sacrificing mum you wanted to be,

but then nothing you wanted was possible anymore?

That your kids don't give a toss about their parents?

That, for the last 17 years,

you've been treating me like a dull, ugly half-brother

who brings home the money but has nothing else to offer?

Who you drag along to look good as a couple,

but refuse to take along on your trips into the unknown

because you always and absolutely have to undertake them alone,

for self-empowerment and emancipation.

And, above all, because the first and last feminist idea

is always one that's egocentric!

In your world, feminism is just a season ticket

to the full-throttle-super narcissistic-your-own-personal-

fucking-Milena-self-discovery- me-mine-mine-mine-

me-me-me-me-and-a- thousand-times-only-me downhill run!

Listen,

are you two completely off your rocker?

Go have a decent fuck.

With eye contact.

That'll sort you out.

Hello Tim? It's Farrah.

Yes, she's here. You don't have to worry.

Yes?

Yes... if you want to?

I can't go very far now,

but...

just around the corner there's a 24-hour kiosk.

We keep falling into the same patterns. Us, I mean.

We even do therapy and all.

It's so tedious.

I don't know.

It really is a big mess.

You need to sort it.

What's the deal here? Are you our cleaner or therapist?

I mean...

Somehow everything's changed at home since you turned up.

I'm not sure it has that much to do with me.

You are all at a point where something has to change.

Something fundamental.

You too.

You've become strangers.

But you're afraid to discuss the reasons.

Maybe because you haven't understood them fully yet.

Wise guy...

Excuse me?

That may all be true, but...

what do you suggest?

This is a high-frequency LED lamp

developed by an Austrian psychologist and a German neurologist.

If you relax,

close your eyelids, and let it shine in your face,

the flickering light penetrates your eyelids onto your retina

and triggers neuronal impulses in your synapse structure.

This activates, among other things, a gland in the back of your mid brain.

Its secretions are particularly essential to human beings

on two occasions during their lifetime:

at birth

and at death.

And what's released there?

A cocktail of substances,

the most important of which is called DMT.

But that's a drug.

It can be taken as a drug, yes.

But you don't have to.

Because our body can release the substance by itself

and also dose it right.

And what does the substance do?

It enhances our willingness to let go.

It allows us to look at our lives from a healthy distance.

It takes us back to our basic states of being.

Trust,

openness,

love.

Wow.

Anything else?

In situations that exceed our imaginative capacity, it allows us

to bear the inconceivable.

Similar to near-death experiences?

Exactly.

It can seem like an artificially stimulated near-death experience.

Just by staring in there?

The eyes stay shut,

wise guy.

Simone?

Hello!

To the ministry, please.

Hello, Mrs. Engels.

Sorry,

I'm actually never late, never ever.

Maybe you sensed that this session

wasn't going to be a happy one for you.

Why?

Because your application has been denied.

What?

I thought it was just a formality?

We have so many holes to plug.

But what does that mean?

It means that we are ending the funding for your initiative.

It's the most successful cultural project in the whole region.

The program which you always loved to pin on yourself.

For 15 years, we've been producing fun and educationally valuable plays

with hundreds of children and young adults...

I know.

50 that they'd rethink their lives, norms, their antiquated...

I know. The project is unique.

And I admire your endurance but...

Morning.

Tim.

Morning, Sam.

Morning.

Could you come for a moment?

This is Michelle, this is Chao.

Pleasure.

What's up?

Are you the newbies for the fall campaign?

No.

Tim, Open Mind has decided

that your time at this company is over.

Michelle and Chao take over your department as of next month.

Of course, we hope for a smooth transition

and ask you to bring them up to speed with our current campaigns.

What?

We're letting you go.

Wow.

What are you doing here?

You're avoiding me.

- No. - Yes, you are.

And I know why.

What are you talking about?

You don't want to go.

Go where?

To your date.

Next week...

Fear doesn't fight fair,

if you're looking for emotional connection.

Because your fear wants you all to itself.

But do you really want to be left alone with your fear?

Hello.

Family council?

I wasn't sure you'd all come if I told you in advance

that I wanted to sit you down at my table.

I don't know how it can go on.

Me neither.

Me neither.

Very good.

Then you can finally start

to find your way back to each other again.

As a group,

and as a family.

This is where a new chapter begins.

Where you tell each other all

you've previously kept secret

and where you, void of reproach,

nor tactics

reveal yourselves to each other.

I'll start.

Okay, and I won't run off again.

Listen to me.

I need you to do me a favour.

A big favour.

I need you

for a session with the light.

A group session.

On the 26th, in one week.

Here?

No, at your place.

All five of us?

No, not Dio.

It's very important.

You need to promise me. Okay?

Yes.

But before, you need to do a few things.

I'd like you to get to know the game

that will take Jon to the Champions League.

The video game?

VR, Mum.

Yes. And I'd like you

to accompany Frieda one day

on one of her dancing all-nighters with her friends.

WELCOME TO DREAM HACK CONVENTION

Oh God.

Please say hello to our friend.

So, how did it go?

I think I won't have to travel to Nairobi for a while.

Why not?

Because they don't need me anymore.

And is this nothing but bad news?

Or also a little bit the contrary?

How did it go for you?

There were nine competitors.

All either PoC,

women,

queer, or men in their early thirties.

Why do I even go to job interviews like that anymore?

Why not?

Zero chance.

And rightly so.

I'll pick them up in two days. Okay?

Yes, that's long enough.

Thanks so much.

I've adjusted the lamps for you.

So I can switch them on at the same time.

Farrah, what are we doing in this session?

What's this about?

I'd like you to trust me completely.

And to let yourselves go.

We need to drink this first.

What is it anyway?

Ready?

Good afternoon.

Hello.

Good afternoon.

Who are these people? What's going on?

Farrah?

Say something.

What are we doing here?

It's time.

- No, no... - Yes.

They are our escorts.

Farrah?

You know what you have to do.

Why did we do this to ourselves?

Why?

What are you doing?

I've got to get out of here.

Come back soon.

Are you crazy? Do you want to kill yourself?

Help us! Open up!

Karim! Children! Where are you?

Mama'!

- Alia! - Mama!