Fresh

Time is running out for 24-year-old Kai (Louis Hofmann). Today, his violent brother Mirko (Franz Pätzold) is being released from prison early. And tonight, he’ll come to Kai’s house to get back the money Kai was supposed to hold onto for him after a robbery: 10,000 euros. The problem is: the money has long since been spent. Welcome to the life of Kai—husband, father, and worker at a meat-processing plant in the Ruhr region. Kai lives with his wife Ayse and daughter Jenny in a run-down neighborhood. Jobs are scarce, but Kai works hard, just like his uncle Andy at the factory, to provide a better life for his young family. Still, the money is barely enough. When Mirko suddenly reappears, Kai feels threatened. He must come up with the missing money in time, if necessary even as a drug courier for Mirko... This uncompromising genre film is an adaptation of the novel “Fresh” by Scottish author Mark McNay. Except that the setting has been moved from a small English town to Duisburg. Director Damian John Harper (“Woodwalkers”) has all the characters speak the Ruhr Valley dialect and does not shy away from graphic depictions of violence and precarious social structures. In doing so, “the gritty gangster drama captivates with a complex narrative structure featuring clever suspense, a dark portrayal of the underworld, agile cinematography, and excellent performances.” (Lexikon des Internationalen Films)