With occupying forces closing in, a haunted refugee (Franz Rogowski, Germany’s Joaquin Phoenix) assumes a dead writer’s identity—and transit papers—and flees to Marseille in hopes of sailing to safety. However, he soon becomes entangled in the lives of those who’ve been left behind, including the widow (Paula Beer) of the man he’s posing as. Christian Petzold (Phoenix) masterfully conjures a fever dream-fuelled, noir-tinged romantic thriller that’s equally indebted to Casablanca and current affairs.

Director: Christian Petzold
Cast: Franz Rogowski, Paula Beer, Godehard Giese

Runtime: 101 mins