Oliver Hirschbiegel’s Downfall took us to the epicentre of the collapse of Nazism in April 1945. This film, directed by Fatih Akin, shows us the ripple effects of that same seismic moment as experienced on the far-off North Sea island of Amrum.

Co-written by Akin (Head-On) and veteran filmmaker Hark Bohm, who died in late 2025 and drew on his own childhood experiences for the script, Amrum centres on Nanning (Jasper Billerbeck), a 12-year-old boy whose father is serving in the soon-to-be-defeated army. His pregnant mother, Hille (Laura Tonke), remains an ardent Nazi even as the regime’s final collapse looms. Nanning himself is a member of the Jungvolk, Germany’s ideologically driven boys’ movement.

Jasper Billerbeck and Diana Kruger in Amrum. Image supplied

As news of the regime’s fall reaches Amrum, Hille gives birth but, gripped by a kind of double postpartum depression, refuses to eat. The only things she wants are white bread, fresh butter and honey – all impossibly scarce. Nanning sets out to find them. There’s almost a touch of fairytale to his quest and, in the process, he comes to realise that his future will be very different from his present.

In some ways, it’s a gentle film. The horrors of war feel far away and Amrum appears comparatively untouched. British bombers jettison their payloads into the nearby sea; Polish refugees are forced into farm labour and we see little of their suffering. What Akin shows instead is the corrosive effect of life under a totalitarian, racist regime. There is no shortage of enthusiasm for Hitler on Amrum. Even a minor anti-Nazi grumble can land you in serious trouble, as Diane Kruger’s farmworker Tessa discovers.

In his first screen role, Billerbeck anchors the film beautifully. Akin neither idealises nor trivialises Nanning’s confusion as he tries to do right by both his mother and his own moral compass. You can’t help but root for him as he emerges from the trappings of his upbringing and confronts obstacles that would stop many adults in their tracks. It’s no surprise that Akin has cited Stand by Me as an inspiration.

It’s a beautiful film, too, with Amrum’s flat, windswept landscapes quietly but evocatively showcased.

Amrum plays in the HSBC 2026 German Film Festival. For screenings, visit this link.