Tandem - In welcher Sprache träumst du? (Langue Étrangère)
France/Germany/Belgium 2024

Opening 24 Oct 2024

Directed by: Claire Burger
Writing credits: Claire Burger, Léa Mysius
Principal actors: Lilith Grasmug, Josefa Heinsius, Nina Hoss, Chiara Mastroianni, Jalal Altawil

It’s 1989 and Fanny (Lilith Grasmug) from Strasbourg, France, travels to Leipzig, Germany, where she is a high-school exchange student. She stays with schoolmate Lena (Josefa Heinsius) and meets Lena’s patchwork family: her mother Susanne (Nina Hoss), her father Dirk, Susanne’s boyfriend Tobias as well as Tobias’ twin kids. Fanny tries to make herself more “interesting” and makes up facts about herself such as being allergic to peanut butter. She attempts to adjust to East German customs as the time of the Stasi reaches its end. At first Lena rejects having her around, wishing that she would go back home, but gradually they become friends in the midst of several family controversies.

This is a true exchange, because now Lena goes to Strasbourg as an exchange student and stays with Fanny’s family where she meets her father Anthar and mother Antonia, as well as Anthar’s girlfriend. Here, too, there are controversies and false truths. In the end Fanny and Lena are good friends, always together, exchanging languages back and forth in German and French. Who is this half-sister Justine? Is she one of Fanny’s fantasies which she makes up in order to be more interesting?

Student exchanges are popular in all countries. Naturally, one must adjust and hope for the best. The title translates to “What language do you dream in?” The word “tandem” means “one after another” or “behind each other” and is said just one time, sixty minutes into the film. Here we have mostly actresses with just a few men popping up occasionally—naturally all excellent. (Becky Tan)