Familie is nich (2024)

The embittered Anne Sachs lives alone on a large but run-down farm somewhere in Brandenburg. Neither the mail carrier nor the new pastor, Bernd Schlesinger, is a welcome guest, and she has had no contact with her daughter Julia for more than ten years. Julia lives in Berlin and is facing several months in prison after taking part in an armed robbery as the driver of the getaway car. After some time, Julia’s friend Mariam becomes overwhelmed with looking after Julia’s daughter, Tilda, and brings the child to Anne. Until then, Anne knew nothing about Tilda, and she is not particularly pleased that her granddaughter is suddenly supposed to live with her on the farm. When Mariam is about to set off back to Berlin to place Tilda in the care of the child welfare office, Anne makes up her mind to take her in. But she makes one thing clear from the start: “We’re not family.” After some initial difficulties, Anne and Tilda grow closer, but the time with her granddaughter also reopens old wounds. This is especially true when Tilda insists on going to the village fair, where Anne gets into an argument with Luise. Luise still accuses Anne of refusing to sell her woodland back then out of sheer selfishness. The only person on Anne’s side is Mayor Holger Hahn, who had been in love with Anne in the past. Holger is also one of the few villagers with whom Anne has maintained at least a somewhat respectful relationship in recent years. Since Anne does not have custody of Tilda, the child welfare office gets involved. Reluctantly, Anne lets Holger drive her to the prison to ask her daughter to consent to the transfer of custody. But Julia wants nothing to do with her mother and refuses. However, Anne has grown attached to her granddaughter and decides to fight for custody. With a heavy heart, she agrees to sell her woodland so she can hire a lawyer. Her efforts succeed, and Tilda is allowed to stay with Anne until her mother gets out of prison. When Julia comes to collect Tilda, Anne and Julia are still unwilling to forgive one another. Only when Anne overcomes her pride, lets Holger drive her to Berlin, and visits her daughter and granddaughter there do they finally reconcile.