22 Bahnen (2025)

The film is about the relationship between two sisters and their alcoholic mother. Tilda studies mathematics and is writing her master’s thesis on the Navier–Stokes equations. Alongside her studies, she takes care of the household and her ten-year-old sister Ida, works as a cashier, and spends her free time at the swimming pool. Because of her talent, a professor recommends her for a PhD position in a related field. Since she would have to move from their small town to Berlin for it, and does not want to leave her sister with their alcoholic mother, she turns it down. She befriends Viktor, who recently moved to town. She used to be friends with his brother, Ivan, until he died in a car accident. She feels guilty because she had urged Ivan to go to a party and take drugs on the evening before the drive. When the professor reminds Tilda of the application deadline for the PhD position, she tells Ida about the offer and considers preparing her sister for a life without her. Ida runs away after an argument with their mother. Tilda and Viktor look for her and spend the night at his place, until he says over breakfast that, given what happened with his brother, he cannot bear to sit with them like this. Tilda’s mother overdoses on benzodiazepines. Ida supports Tilda by calling emergency services while her sister administers first aid. While their mother is in the hospital, Tilda also falls ill with a high fever, and Viktor looks after her and Ida. Against the doctor’s recommendation, their mother wants to forgo treatment and go home again. When Tilda tells her about the PhD position and asks what she thinks, a conflict breaks out, ending with Ida pointing out that Tilda has always taken care of everything alone. Viktor clears out his parents’ house; Tilda helps him and tells him about her feelings of guilt. He explains to her that Ivan was not driving the car. The film ends with a conversation between Tilda and Ida at the swimming pool, during which Ida says she supports her sister going to Berlin for the PhD.