From Hilde, With Love

A new drama from Andreas Dresen, director of Aro Favourite “Cloud 9” (2008), that details the remarkable true story of a young German woman drawn into the anti-Nazi resistance movement during WWII.

Berlin, 1942. When the shy, heavily-pregnant Hilde Coppi (Liv Lisa Fries, ‘Babylon Berlin’) is suddenly detained by the Gestapo, she pleads ignorance to their accusations that she has aided her lover, Hans (Johannes Hegemann), in transcribing coded radio transmissions to and from Moscow. However, it appears there’s more evidence against Hilde than she anticipated, given Hans and many of the other activists involved in their group – who will become known as “The Red Orchestra” – have also been arrested.

Compelled to give birth in custody, Hilde is informed that her child may be taken from her, but her kindness and quiet resolve wins over a prison nurse, enabling mother and son to remain together. As Hilde awaits her sentencing, she reminisces about her involvement with Hans and their joyful romance, the most beautiful summer of her life.

Dresen’s compelling and humanistic film echoes the themes and impact of ‘The Lives of Others’, as a war drama that – without depicting a single bullet being fired - speaks more eloquently about courage than many battle-heavy spectacles.

“A poignant testament to moral courage amid monstrous evil… Andreas Dresen’s restrained drama eschews triumphalism to focus on awakening conscience as an end it itself.” ~Naser Nahandian, Gazettely