Luisa (2025)

Luisa has recently moved out of home and is curious about what life has in store for her. She loves parties, is up for anything fun, and gets involved in flirtations and little adventures. She lives in a group home at a facility for people with disabilities on the outskirts of a small German town. There, she receives support in her often turbulent everyday life. Without anyone noticing, Luisa becomes increasingly quiet. Daily life in the group home carries on until it is unexpectedly discovered that Luisa is pregnant. Luisa herself does not say how it happened; she remains silent. Everyone knows that her boyfriend Anton is infertile. The suspicion of sexual abuse is hard to avoid. Luisa decides to have an abortion. The police are called in and try to determine whether a crime has taken place. The investigation becomes a test of endurance for Luisa, her relationship with Anton, and all the staff at the residential facility. The story revolves around Luisa and her struggle with the violations of her boundaries that she experiences. At the same time, it depicts the often hidden world of people with disabilities in an institution that is supposed to protect them, but is also a threat to their bodily integrity and their ability to live self-determined lives. Anchored by an inclusive ensemble, Celina Scharff, in her first major role as Luisa, is the film’s driving force.