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A Fish Swimming Upside Down streaming

Original title: Ein Fisch, der auf dem Rücken schwimmt
2020 Movie Germany Drama 103 min Ages 14+
By: Eliza Petkova With: Henning Mosselman, Theo Trebs, Leon Ullrich, Nina Schwabe, Henning Kober

A love triangle on the border of conventional moral concepts: Andrea, in her early 40s, is a woman without a past - playful, direct, light, energetic, honest, unpredictable. She and 50-year-old Philipp have been together for some time and decide to move in together. Andrea's presence should fill the gap for the deceased Hanna, wife and mother of the house.19-year-old Martin is Philip's son and loves and desires Andrea too and his life is limited to his own four walls, jogging in the woods and meadows and the pool in the front garden. He gives both of them the cold shoulder at first. But she brings a new lightness into the large, empty family house and when she also turns to Martin, she becomes a projection surface for both men. For one summer, their longings seem to be fulfilled in a love triangle in which it is unspoken who knows what from whom. But expectations grow, and while Philipp withdraws into passivity, Martin develops ownership claims. The three of them become more and more destructive of each other - and ultimately become bearers of a common guilt. A reduced, well-composed arrangement of imperfect, deeply human figures fighting against inner emptiness.

Filmium rating
66%

Mood

Emotional
Energetic
Melancholic
Reflective
Thoughtful

Cast & Crew

Eliza Petkova
Henning Mosselman
Anna Manolova
Márton Nagy
Nina Schwabe
Henning Kober
Theo Trebs
Leon Ullrich
Eliza Petkova (Director, Writer)
Emerging Talent
Hannes Marget (Composer)
Henning (Actor)
Independent Filmmakers
Nina Schwabe (Actress)

Budget

Independent
Low-Budget

Cinematic Technique

Character-Focused
Dialogue-Driven
Emotional
Intimate
Naturalistic

Narrative Structure

Character-Driven
Linear
Slice-Of-Life

Pace

Contemplative
Deliberate
Measured
Reflective
Slow-Paced
Steady

Runtime

Art-House Length

Soundtrack

Original Score
Subtle Music

Style

Cinematic
Drama
Intimate
Poetic
Realistic

Time-Period

2020S
Contemporary

Central Conflict

Inner Emptiness
Love And Longing
Search For Security

Characters

Father
Mother Figure
Son
Woman Without Past

Ending

Ambiguous
Bittersweet
Open-Ended

Historical Context

Contemporary
Post-2010

Key Plot Points

Loss Of Past
Love Triangle
Search For Belonging

Plot

Emotional Conflict
Existential Emptiness
Family Drama
Love Triangle
Search For Belonging

Setting

Contemporary
Contemporary Germany
Domestic
House
Intimate

Shooting Location

Domestic Setting
Germany

Theme

Belonging
Emptiness
Fragility Of Relationships
Human Connection
Identity
Search For Belonging

Genre

Character Study
Drama
Independent Film
Romantic Drama

Audiences

Adults
Art-House Enthusiasts
Art-House Viewers
Independent Film Lovers

Titles

A Fish Swimming On Its Back
A Fish Swimming Upside Down

Reception

Berlinale
Berlinale Premiere
Critical Acclaim
Critical Reflection On Heimat
Festival Circuit

Production Countries

Germany

Release Year

2020
mowizz ID: e625e6e5-1c68-4649-b3f4-10ba600ba0b1
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