
Wood and Water
New Directors/New Films 2021
April 28 - May 8, 2021
A German woman (played by the filmmaker’s own mother) dreams of spending time with her grown children, including her uncommunicative and elusive son who has been living for years in Hong Kong, in this gentle, ambiguous tale of becoming.
Wood and Water screens virtually nationwide from 5/1 to 5/6.
Access this year’s ND/NF virtually nationwide or in FLC theaters!
- FLC Virtual Cinema: The public-facing rental platform for FLC members, students, seniors, and the general public.
- MoMA Virtual Cinema: Free exclusively for MoMA members starting April 28th.
With seamless grace, German director Jonas Bak moves from the tall spires of the Black Forest to the teeming skyscrapers of Hong Kong in his tranquil, deeply moving feature debut. Newly retired from her church job, Anke dreams of spending time with her grown children—including her uncommunicative and elusive son, Max, who has been living for years in Hong Kong, and who is unable to join his mother and sister back in Germany due to the ongoing pro-democracy protests. In a daring decision, Anke, though suffering from depression and anxiety, travels to Hong Kong to find Max and perhaps also herself. In his hushed, wholly original approach to this fish-out-of-water set-up, Bak constructs a gentle, ambiguous fable of becoming, shot on 16mm and featuring a wondrous, naturalistic performance by his own mother, Anke Bak.
Access the entire festival slate and SAVE with the Virtual All-Access Pass for just $275 ($348 value).
All ND/NF screenings include recorded filmmaker Q&As! Virtual ticket holders will be able to access these conversations in the Virtual Cinema timed to when the film premieres. In-theater ticket holders will be sent access to a private YouTube playlist at the start of the festival.
Presented in collaboration with the German Film Office, an initiative of the Goethe-Institut and German Films.




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