Lies About My Mother: Bitterly Comic Family Story Live at Filmforum Duisburg

When Family Love Weighs Heavy: Lies About My Mother at Filmforum Duisburg

A sentence heavier than any diet book: Cornelia is too fat, says Werner. And he should know, because he is her husband. Aron Lehmann's film adaptation of Daniela Dröschers autobiographical novel combines bitter humor, family abysses, and a surprisingly warm gaze at the first great love of our lives: the relationship between mother and child.

Bitter Comedy with Very Human Timing

In the Rhineland-Palatinate province of the 1980s, family life becomes a stage for Werner's obsession with thinness. Between Brigitte diet, binge eating in the basement, and daily weighing, a tragicomic atmosphere arises where laughter always carries a small lump in the throat. The punchlines land dry, sometimes painfully precise, and precisely for that reason remarkably effective.

A Childhood Observes Closely

Six-year-old Ela observes how her father's ideas about body, appearance, and a presentable wife dominate the home. The girl becomes an involuntary accomplice and tries to protect her mother's health. The film does not tell from a safe distance: the adult Daniela looks back from the screen and contextualizes what little Ela could not understand at the time.

Rosalie Thomass, Golo Euler and Elise Lindner

Rosalie Thomass plays Cornelia with a mix of vulnerability and inner resilience. Golo Euler gives Werner an uncomfortably convincing, almost satirical presence. Elise Lindner imbues Ela with that childish attention that lets every audience reaction swing between chuckling and embarrassed silence. The result is not an ordinary feel-good film, but a bitterly comic family story with precise observation.

New German Wave and Nostalgia with Barbs

The soundtrack featuring New German Wave snippets brings movement to the 1980s and gives the scenes a quirky rhythm. Clothing and interiors evoke nostalgic images, yet the film reminds us that not everything was better in the past. When Cornelia finally stands alone on the dance floor, a small movement becomes a significant moment of freedom.

Conclusion: A Laugh Experience with Attitude

Lies About My Mother welcomes its audience with dry humor, bitterly comic punchlines, and a strong mother-daughter perspective. Those who enjoy family stories with a satirical eye, precise timing, and emotional resonance will find a cinema visit at Filmforum Duisburg that lingers long after the credits roll. Best viewed live in the cinema, laugh together, and then discuss the uncomfortable truths.

Official Channels for Lies About My Mother:

• Instagram: no official profile found
• Facebook: no official profile found
• YouTube: no official profile found
• TikTok: no official profile found

Sources:

• Filmforum Duisburg - Lies About My Mother
• Duisburg Live - Lies About My Mother