My Take:
Berlin, a record-breaking hot summer in Kreuzberg. 14-year-old Nora is "the quiet one"—always in the shadow of her popular older sister and her beautiful friends. Nora watches the world from the sidelines, cares for caterpillars in a jar, and feels like she doesn't fit into the world of Instagram filters. Everything changes when she meets Romy—a girl who rides a motorcycle, isn't afraid to be herself, and makes Nora feel butterflies for the first time. It’s a story about the exact moment the caterpillar finally leaves its cocoon and begins to fly.
What's Captivating: The aesthetic. The film is drenched in the golden light of sunsets, the neon of Berlin nights, and the dust of summer streets. It’s a very sensual movie—you can almost feel the sweat, the smell of pool chlorine, and the shy, first love. Lena Urzendowsky as Nora is magnetic; her transformation from a withdrawn child to a self-aware young woman is portrayed in an incredibly subtle and truthful way.
A Word of Caution: The film doesn't shy away from tougher topics like peer pressure, alcohol, and body image issues. However, it’s a very positive, hopeful story that avoids the tragic endings often found in queer cinema.
Verdict: 8.8/10 🦋☀️
Pure visual poetry about growing up. The perfect summer evening movie that leaves you with a smile on your face.
🔍 Did you know...?
The film had its world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) in the Generation 14plus section, where it charmed critics with its fresh take on the coming-of-age genre. Director Leonie Krippendorff wanted to pay tribute to her home district of Kreuzberg, showing it not as a dangerous place, but as the vibrant, multicultural heart of Berlin. Interestingly, the caterpillar and cocoon metaphor followed the crew throughout production—Lena Urzendowsky actually spent time with the insects to build a bond with her character.
