Nebenwege (2014)

The busy Munich architect Richard Beller drives with his 14-year-old daughter Marie to visit his mother Hilde in the Bavarian countryside. He wants to put his mother in a nursing home because the 78-year-old is showing signs of Alzheimer’s. As he is loading a small van with his mother’s furniture, she disappears. Since the police are unwilling to do anything at that moment, he and Marie set out to look for Hilde. They suspect she has headed for Altötting, as Hilde has spoken repeatedly about the Black Madonna. They find the old woman in the woods, but she refuses to go into a home. Marie—disappointed in her father and in the way he treats his mother—supports her grandmother’s wish to go to Altötting. On the way there, Richard drives the van into a ditch. As they continue on foot, they meet other pilgrims. The three are able to spend the night with Ferdl, a somewhat eccentric farmer, but have to flee during the night because he harasses Hilde. Since they are out of money, a festival host at a local fair gives them food and some money. Marie learns from her father that his younger brother died in a car accident. Since then, his relationship with his mother has been very strained. When the three arrive in Altötting, Hilde goes into a pharmacy to buy a bandage for Richard, who has blisters on his feet. The pharmacist notices Hilde’s confused state and calls the police. Since the three cannot identify themselves, the police intend to take them to the station. Richard takes advantage of a moment of inattention from the officers and drives Hilde and Marie to the Chapel of Grace in the police car. He is arrested there, but manages to ensure that his mother can pray in peace. Later, Richard and Marie take Hilde to the nursing home, where a nun greets her and wants to show her her new home.