GER24 Lubo

Synopsis

In the winter of 1939 in Switzerland, Lubo (a superb Franz Rogowski, VICTORIA GFF21), who makes a humble living as a nomadic street performer, is called up to join the Swiss army to defend the border with Austria from a potential German invasion. Forced to abandon his family, he soon discovers that his wife tragically died while trying to stop the authorities from taking their three young children away.

Targeted because they are Yenish, a minority nomadic community, Lubo’s family falls victim to a national campaign for the ‘re-education’ of street children (HILFSWERK FÜR DIE KINDER DER LANDSTRASSE). Lubo knows that he will never have peace until he reunites with his children and gets justice for himself and his people – for which he is ready to go to extraordinary lengths.

Loosely inspired by the novel Il Seminatore by Mario Cavatore, this sweeping drama from Giorgio Diritti follows a man’s decades-long epic quest for freedom, justice, love and self-determination, that encourages us to rethink the blurred boundaries between good and evil.

Awards

NOMINEE – Golden Lion, Venice Film Festival 2023 

OFFICIAL SELECTION – BFI London Film Fest 2023 

OFFICIAL SELECTION – Zurich Film Festival 2023 

Reviews