A new trailer has arrived for Fatherland, the upcoming historical drama from acclaimed filmmaker Paweł Pawlikowski, offering a closer look at Sandra Hüller and Hanns Zischler in a deeply personal story set against the backdrop of the Cold War.
The film follows celebrated German writer Thomas Mann and his daughter Erika as they travel across a divided Germany in a black Buick, journeying from U.S.-controlled Frankfurt to Soviet-controlled Weimar. What begins as a road trip through a country still recovering from the devastation of war gradually becomes an intimate exploration of family, identity, politics and a changing Germany.
Hüller plays Erika Mann, the actress, writer and rally driver who accompanies her father on the journey, while Zischler portrays Thomas Mann. Their relationship sits firmly at the heart of the story, with the new footage highlighting both their affection and increasingly complicated exchanges.
The trailer begins by questioning the purpose of their journey, with the suggestion that the trip could potentially be Thomas Mann’s last. From there, the footage moves between moments of music, performance and quieter conversations, creating an atmosphere that feels both intimate and increasingly uneasy.
Erika’s more forceful personality also comes through strongly. Her frustration with her father surfaces during several exchanges, while moments of tenderness between the pair provide a glimpse into the complicated bond they share.
Rather than relying on conventional action, Fatherland appears to build its tension through its characters and the political and emotional landscape surrounding them. The contrast between lively musical performances and subdued conversations gives the film a distinctive mood, while Pawlikowski’s visual approach once again evokes the stark beauty associated with his previous work.
Pawlikowski, who co-wrote the screenplay with Henk Handloegten, reunites with cinematographer Łukasz Żal, who previously shot the director’s acclaimed films Ida and Cold War. The film was also shot in black and white, further reinforcing its period setting and visual connection to Pawlikowski’s earlier work.
The cast includes August Diehl, Anna Madeley and Devid Striesow alongside Hüller and Zischler. The film runs for 82 minutes and incorporates German, English, French and Russian, with English subtitles.
Fatherland has already generated considerable attention following its premiere at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, where Pawlikowski shared the Best Director prize. The film is also set to screen at the New York Film Festival ahead of its theatrical release.
For Hüller, the film adds another intriguing performance to an increasingly impressive international career. Following acclaimed turns in Anatomy of a Fall and The Zone of Interest, as well as her role in the upcoming Project Hail Mary, Fatherland sees the German actress tackle another complex historical character.
Fatherland is scheduled to arrive in cinemas on October 23, 2026.
The new trailer promises an understated but emotionally charged drama, with Pawlikowski once again turning a significant chapter of European history into an intimate story about people caught between personal relationships and a rapidly changing world.
