When does the screening take place?

The screening starts on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at 3:30 PM at filmforum Duisburg.

How long is the film?

The film lasts 112 minutes. No intermission is indicated.

What is the age rating?

The film is rated 12 and older in Germany.

Where does the event take place?

The screening takes place at filmforum at Dellplatz 16 in 47051 Duisburg.

What is Mrs. Winkler Leaves the House about?

The story focuses on a former actress, her daughter, and a caregiving robot that unexpectedly becomes a companion to the ill Mrs. Winkler in a near future.

What is the ticket price?

A specific price for this screening is not listed in the available event information. Current ticket information can be obtained from filmforum Duisburg.

Mrs. Winkler Leaves the House: A Touching Future Between Humanity, Care, and Artificial Intelligence

Name: Mrs. Winkler Leaves the House
Start: 2026-10-03T15:30:00+02:00
End: 2026-10-03T17:30:00+02:00
Location: filmforum

When a Machine Appears More Human Than People

The future is not so far off: On Saturday, October 3, 2026, the filmforum Duisburg will screen Doris Dörrie's tragicomedy Mrs. Winkler Leaves the House. The screening starts at 3:30 PM and leads into a relatable, yet unsettlingly familiar world where artificial intelligence, care, and family responsibility collide directly.

A Woman Between Memory and Future

Mrs. Winkler, played by Angela Winkler, lives alone, is gravely ill and marked by the traces of a long life. Her daughter Emi, portrayed by Laura Tonke, struggles to support her mother amidst professional obligations and personal overwhelm. A caregiving robot named Pawlowitsch is supposed to help – and soon becomes an unexpected companion.

Doris Dörrie combines visions of the future and family history into a finely balanced tragicomedy. The production views artificial intelligence not just as a threat, but as a mirror of human needs. An emotional tension emerges between care, loneliness, grief, and self-determination, extending far beyond classic science fiction.

Dramaturgy Between Chekhov and Artificial Intelligence

The world of theater serves as an important resonance space for the film. Mrs. Winkler was once an actress while her daughter works on Anton Chekhov's Three Sisters. Chekhov’s questions about the meaning of life, loss, and unfulfilled longing resonate throughout the drama. The robot Pawlowitsch is named after Anton Pavlovich Chekhov – a nod to the close connection between stage art, memory, and technical presence.

Particularly interesting are the reflections within the cast: Josef Ellers embodies both the angular acting caregiver robot and Mrs. Winkler's deceased husband Bruno. Laura Tonke plays not only Emi but also a younger version of her mother. These dual roles deepen the narrative and make visible how strongly family members continue to live on in each other's memories and projections.

Angela Winkler with Great Acting Presence

Angela Winkler imbues the main character with a contradictory mix of sharpness, vulnerability, and dignity. Her acting maintains a balance between comedic moments and existential upheaval. Laura Tonke crafts Emi as a daughter wanting to break free from family guilt without abandoning her mother. Josef Ellers gives the robot an unusual on-stage presence: mechanical movements, a restrained performance, and a surprisingly melancholic effect connect technology with empathy.

A Film About Care, Grief, and Humanity

The production is set in a near future where robotic care assistance is already part of everyday life. This very normalcy creates the actual tension. Who cares when family members reach their limits? Can a machine provide solace? And what remains of humanity when memory, language, and closeness are technically mediated?

Film criticism honors Doris Dörrie’s work as a clever and touching tragicomedy about familial alienation, loss, and the question of what makes human life. The future appears not as a dark dystopia but as a cheerful projection surface for very current conflicts.

The Stage Experience at filmforum Duisburg

The filmforum Duisburg is Germany's first municipal cinema and welcomes its audience in an atmosphere reminiscent of a 1950s movie palace. The dark room acoustics, the focused light of the screen, and the collective attention of the audience create an intense cinematic experience. With a running time of 112 minutes, the story unfolds as a closed drama without an intermission.

Conclusion: A Quiet Future Film with Great Emotional Impact

Mrs. Winkler Leaves the House combines acting artistry, philosophical questions, and heartfelt humor into an extraordinary evening at the cinema. Visitors can expect a finely observed family story with strong actors, precise dramaturgy, and lasting resonance. Those who want to engage with a clever, human, and surprisingly cheerful future drama will experience a special film afternoon at filmforum Duisburg.