TRIAL OF HEIN
[DER HEIMATLOSE]
German writer/director Kai Stänicke’s impressive debut feature follows the titular Hein, who returns from the mainland to the windswept, fiercely insular island village he left behind as a teenager, determined to reunite with his first love. But after his 14-year absence, the island’s eccentric inhabitants, including his own family, no longer recognize him and insist he stand trial to prove he is not an imposter. As Hein is forced to defend his identity, a surreal community tribunal unfolds, where memory, belonging and love become matters of public debate. Blending wry humor with nuance and sensitivity, Stäincke crafts a fable that feels both timeless and strikingly original, anchored by a stellar lead performance from Paul Boche. The film’s carefully composed visuals and playful set design lend it a storybook quality, while its exploration of queer love, homecoming and self-determination feels wholly modern. THE TRIAL OF HEIN won the Teddy Jury Award for Best LGBTQ feature film at the Berlinale. (Note courtesy of Mimi Brody, AFI FEST.)
Official Selection, 2026 AFI FEST and New Director/New Films film festivals. DIR/SCR Kai Stänicke; PROD Andrea Schütte, Dirk Decker, Dario Suter. Germany, 2026, color, 122 min. In German with English subtitles. NOT RATED
Run Time: 122 Minutes
Opening Date: Saturday, December 19, 2026
Genre: Drama, romance
