Amrum

Amrum, 1945. Shortly before the end of the war, mother of three Hille (Laura Tonke) still firmly believes in final victory. Life on Amrum is anything but easy at that time. Her twelve-year-old son Nanning (Jasper Billerbeck) toils every day with his best friend Hermann (Kian Köppke) on the fields of farmer Tessa (Diane Kruger), while overhead Allied bombers fly toward the German mainland to finally bring the enemy to its knees. Anyone who wants to survive and provide for their family has to work hard – and Nanning does exactly that: at night, in the bright moonlight, he gathers driftwood, hunts rabbits in the dunes, and steals wild geese eggs. Yet in the village he remains an outsider. As a “newcomer” from the big city, he is met with distrust, mocked at school, and on top of that, his heavily pregnant mother clings with Nibelung loyalty to the Führer, even when everyone already knows that nothing can be won.

When the war really does come to an end and the news of Hitler’s death reaches the island via radio, Hille goes into labor. Shortly after giving birth to her fourth child, she sinks into deep sadness and refuses to eat. When she expresses a great longing for white bread with butter and honey, Nanning feels a new spark of hope. For him, it’s clear that his mother can only regain her strength if he manages to fulfill this wish. But where to find it, when not even theft can get you such a thing anywhere on the island? Barter, day-long marches across the tidal flats, seal hunting – nothing is too much for him. As he gathers ingredient by ingredient, Nanning is not only confronted with the harsh reality of war but also with a family secret that will change his life forever.