A boy and a gun. We see this image right in the beginning of the film, and without doubt, the world of 9-year-old Roman is a dangerous and endangered one. He follows his Ukrainian mother to Germany, where she starts working illegally for 62-year-old Gert with whom she becomes romantically involved. Gert tries to befriend the boy, but Roman keeps his distance. When his mother falls ill, Roman stays alone with his Rival. A short period of coming closer follows, then Roman remains alone…

Marcus Lenz deals with topics like dependence and freedom, and the lack of possibility for self-expression through language or action – seen in a most existential way from a child’s eye.

Christoph Gröner