Konrad Schlaich

After living in a psychiatric hospital for many years, Winkler knows how to play by the rules. His behavior is perfectly adapted to the daily routine of occupational therapy, medication and boredom. Unlike his rebellious roommate Jan who was just committed to the hospital, Winkler has known for a long time that only the most inconspicuous patients eventually get a chance to be released. As Winkler’s annual evaluation draws near, all signs points to his imminent release. His doctor, as well as his friends in the ward, encourage him to prepare for his new freedom, but Winkler becomes increasingly aware that little awaits him in the outside world.

During a storm, Monique and Heiko find an uninvited guest on their allotment plot. The strange stranger has wings on his back and it almost seems as if he has fallen from the sky. Heiko falls under its spell and Monique has a thought: don't we all want to believe in a miracle?

The film captures the ambivalent nature of the Tyrolean landscape around the Bürglkopf mountain. The idyll of Alpine nature, grazing cattle, babbling brooks, and breathtaking panoramas is disrupted by the knowledge that there is a refugee centre at the top of the mountain. Unauthorized entry is prohibited, contact with people inside is undesirable, and cameras are completely denied access behind the walls. The strict regime that asylum seekers must adhere to guarantees them only one thing: a minimal chance of remaining in the safety of Austria.

Set in the east German city of Halle, Konrad Schlaich’s debut feature-length documentary THE CHILD’S MOTHER tells the story of Anne who became a mother at the age of 17. Her daughter Leonie, now aged 14, runs the risk of taking the same path to drug addiction. To break the cycle, Anne is determined to change her life, but can she become the role model her daughter needs before it’s too late?