Christian Petzold‘s latest feature marks another collaboration with actress Paula Beer. It’s their fourth film together.
Petzold will direct “Miroirs No. 3,” which just began production in Germany. The film centers on an aspiring pianist, Laura (Beer), whose life is upended when her boyfriend is killed in a car crash. Laura, who was also in the wreck, wanders into the house (and life) of a family of strangers who offer to take care of her. Their motivations turn out to not be as simple as they first appear.
Barbara Auer, Matthias Brandt, and Enno Trebs co-star.
Metrograph Pictures is distributing the feature in the U.S. The Match Factory negotiated the deal on behalf of the filmmakers and is handling worldwide sales.
“We could not be more excited to be working on this film and collaborating with Christian Petzold, a truly incredible and one-of-a-kind filmmaker,” David Laub, head of Metrograph Pictures, said in a statement shared with press. “The script brings together many themes and ideas from his previous films, while also being a completely original piece of work that will keep audiences mesmerized throughout, as the film unravels many twists and turns while always staying grounded in an emotional and relatable story about love and family.”
Metrograph Pictures CEO Christian Grass added, “The opportunity to work with Christian Petzold on ‘Miroirs No. 3’ is truly amazing. He is a master filmmaker who is inspiring in both his extraordinary craftsmanship, thoughtfulness and storytelling sophistication. We are thrilled to support his new vision and expand Metrograph Picture’s slate by getting involved early in such an exceptional and distinguished project.”
The feature is produced by Schramm Film Koerner Weber Kaiser, in co-production with ZDF and ARTE. Its financiers included Filmförderungsanstalt, Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien, Deutscher Filmförderfonds, and Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg.
Petzold previously earned the Berlin Film Festival’s Silver Bear for Best Director for his 2012 film “Barbara,” and is known for features like “Undine,” “Transit,” and “Afire.”
“Afire” won Berlin’s Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize and was shortlisted as Germany’s official submission for the Best International Feature Oscar.
Petzold told IndieWire that his filmography is rooted to another beloved auteur: Alfred Hitchcock.
“All movies have something to do with Hitchcock,” Petzold said. “My movies have something to do, always, with each camera position. I am thinking like Hitchcock: there is the look of someone — who’s looking here? — or a look like God, this is objective. He’s so close to cinema as a dream. That’s what cinema always has to be.”
