Karla screens as part of this year’s 2026 HSBC German Film Festival, more information about the festival is available here: The 2026 HSBC German Film Festival returns to cinemas in May
Read the Glam Adelaide story about the festival here: 2026 HSBC German Film Festival begins 6 May to 27 May at Palace Nova Cinemas – Glam Adelaide
Director Christina Tournatzès considerately and compassionately crafts the story of Karla into a thoughtful film that looks critically at the plight of a young girl’s struggle within patriarchal structures and institutional cynicism and is highlighted by a formidable performance by young actor Elise Krieps in the central role.
Based on the true story of a milestone German legal case where a child sought a legal response to an abusive parent for the first time, Karla is set in Munich in 1962. The film begins as the family is taking a car ride, where upon arrival twelve-year-old Karla (Elise Krieps) runs away from the family. She arrives at a police station and, having studied the law at a library, asks to speak to a judge.
Judge Friedrich Lamy (Rainer Bock) arrives but Karla is too traumatised to explain to him exactly what her father has done to her. Karla is sent to a girls’ home run by Nuns where she shares a room with another young girl, Ada (Carlotta von Falkenhayn), who has previously worked as a street sex worker. While the girls’ home is grim it is better than continuing to live at her actual home.
Lamy is aware of the difficulty of building a case without exact details of what Karla’s father has done to her, but at the encouragement of his secretary, Erika (Imogen Kogge), he continues to interview Karla and they develop a way for her to tell her story without her having to talk precisely about her father’s acts.
Director Christina Tournatzès and cinematographer Florian Emmerich brilliantly develop Yvonne Görlach’s script atmospherically and tell Karla’s story in flashbacks that only hint at what has happened to her. The production design, in addition, brings a thoroughly authentic feel of the times.
Elise Krieps as Karla is superb, her portrayal of the range of emotions and thoughts of her character signals a flourishing of skills far beyond her young age. Rainer Bock and Imogen Kogge support her well along with the whole cast.
Karla is the winner of Best Screenplay, Best Director at the Munich Film Festival 2025, Best Screenplay, Audience Award at Thessaloniki Film Festival 2025 and Best Screenplay, Best Actor at Bavarian Film Awards 2026, for good reason, it’s an outstanding film.
Reviewed by Rob McKinnon
Rating 5 out of 5
Distributor: Palace Films
A compassionately crafted story about a young girl’s struggle to be believed.
