Amelie rennt (2017)

Thirteen-year-old Amelie lives in Berlin and suffers from asthma, but stubbornly refuses any treatment because the illness she hates gives her the power to play her separated parents off against each other and demand that they make every possible allowance for her. At a specialist clinic in South Tyrol, she initially refuses to cooperate as well. One night, she climbs out of the window, spends the night outdoors, and decides the next morning to head into the mountains behind the building, where nobody will look for her. On the way, she meets Bart, a 15-year-old farmer’s son heading to work. He quickly realizes he cannot talk her out of her plan, so he gets someone to cover for him and offers to accompany her. At first, she is just as brusque with him, stubbornly ignoring his warnings and putting herself in mortal danger several times as a result. But when a personal conversation leads her to realize that Bart’s life is not easy even without asthma, she begins to question her attitude of hating the whole world because of her illness. The down-to-earth boy, who finds her moods more amusing than irritating, makes her see how unreasonable her behavior is. Meanwhile, the search for the missing Amelie is in full swing in the valley, with her parents, who have rushed to the area, taking part. Her belongings, which she lost along the way, are found floating in a mountain stream, giving cause to fear the worst. The climb is very strenuous for Amelie, especially when she loses her asthma inhaler just before reaching her destination, but she also learns to overcome her pride and accept help. Together, the two reach the summit and then continue on to the local Sacred Heart bonfire, which is said to have miraculous powers. From there, they are taken back down to the valley by helicopter. Amelie is now willing to have her asthma treated; in return, her mother promises to give her more freedom in shaping her life. The title comes from a conversation between Amelie and Bart, in which he accuses her of being so afraid that all she does is run all day. She snaps back that she never runs, to which he replies that inside, she is running all the time.