The Light (Das Licht), Tom Tykwer’s Long-Awaited Return to Feature Filmmaking

An exhilarating drama about a modern family on the brink, directed by Tom Tykwer, whose distinctive filmmaking style blends emotional intensity with striking visual dynamism. Renowned for works such as Run Lola Run, Cloud Atlas and Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, Tykwer brings a bold, human-centred approach to contemporary storytelling.

Set in the bustling heart of Berlin, the Engels family is a turbulent and fractured unit: parents Milena and Tim, both in their late forties; 17-year-old twins Frieda and Jon; and eight-year-old Dio. Each is grappling with their own private chaos. When Syrian immigrant Farrah enters their lives as a housekeeper, she quietly destabilises the family’s fragile equilibrium.

One by one, the Engels form intense and enigmatic connections with her, drawn to her calm, focused presence. As boundaries blur, it becomes clear that Farrah has sought out this family for a reason, leading them on a journey that will expose buried truths and push them into the unknown.