Mrs. Winkler Leaves the House: A Moving Future Drama at filmforum Duisburg

Event: Mrs. Winkler Leaves the House in filmforum, Dellplatz 16, 47051 Duisburg on 2. October 2026

Date and Time

2. October 2026 18:00

Location

filmforum
Dellpl. 16, 47051 Duisburg, Germany

Price

9,90
Book Tickets

About this Event

TheaterOther Events

Mood

Other

Venue Type

Inside

When Care Becomes the Great Stage Question of Life

On Friday, October 2, 2026, the filmforum Duisburg presents Doris Dörrie's tragicomedy Mrs. Winkler Leaves the House. The future is not far away in this story, but just a few years ahead: In 2030, a lonely former actress meets a care robot, who initially appears to be an imposition but ultimately becomes an unexpected companion.

Between Loneliness, Loss, and New Will to Live

Mrs. Winkler is 80 years old, seriously ill, and increasingly dependent on her daughter Emi after the death of her husband. When Emi takes a theater engagement, the fragile balance of the family is threatened. An accident exacerbates the situation, and a care robot named Pawlowitsch is to accompany the former actress's daily life from then on.

The production combines personal grief with a socially relevant question: How much humanity remains when care, closeness, and responsibility are delegated to technical systems? From initial resistance, a relationship develops in which care, dependence, and self-determination are constantly renegotiated.

Doris Dörrie Between Comedy and Touching Future Drama

Doris Dörrie directs and is also responsible for the screenplay. Her dramaturgy contrasts bitter everyday experiences with subtle comedic moments. The well-read Pawlowitsch knows classic plays and recites Chekhov – a poetic counterpoint to a health world that increasingly operates on efficiency and measurable vital values.

This creates a finely balanced cinematic experience between tragicomedy, family drama, and future vision. The acting talent of Angela Winkler gives the title character contradictory depth: Mrs. Winkler is vulnerable and sharp-tongued, weary of life and full of resilience. Laura Tonke portrays Emi as a daughter seeking her path between personal freedom and family obligation. Josef Ellers embodies Pawlowitsch with a peculiar mix of technical precision and growing empathy.

A Stage Human Meets Artificial Intelligence

The stage design, in a figurative sense, emerges from Mrs. Winkler's memories of acting and from the sober present of care life. Classic theatrical texts, medical data, and familial conflicts collide. This constellation gives the film a unique theatrical atmosphere, although the narrative unfolds its effect in the cinema hall.

The camera work of Leah Striker and the set design of Bernd Lepel support the shift between personal closeness and a world that increasingly views people as cases, cost factors, or data points. The acoustics and restrained lighting mood do not serve grand effects, but the nuances: a glance, a pause, a sentence that suddenly stands in the room like a stage signal.

A Future Film with Immediate Present

Mrs. Winkler Leaves the House tells not only of robotics but also of the human longing for attention. Pawlowitsch helps in daily life, provides companionship, and awakens in Mrs. Winkler a new interest in classic dramas. At the same time, he transmits her health values to an efficiency-oriented system. The central tension arises where technical care and genuine attention can no longer be distinctly separated from each other.

The film premieres in Germany on October 1, 2026, and is rated for ages 12 and up. With a runtime of approximately 112 minutes, the audience can expect a concentrated, thought-provoking, and at the same time heartwarming stage experience in cinema format.

Conclusion: An Evening About Staying and Letting Go

A visit to the filmforum Duisburg promises an emotional encounter with an extraordinary character and a narrative that points directly to the future of our society. Those wishing to experience strong acting, clever dramaturgy, and a touching story about loneliness, care, and hope will find in Mrs. Winkler Leaves the House a film with great emotional resonance.

Official Channels of filmforum Duisburg:

Sources:

Loading map...

Frequently Asked Questions