Trial of Hein

Trial of Hein (2026)



Der Heimatlose

7.0 2026 122 min Germany

Director: Kai Stänicke

Cast: Paul Boche, Stephanie Amarell, Philip Froissant, Emilia Schüle, Jeanette Hain

Drama
After a fourteen-year absence, Hein journeys back to the isolated island village he once called home—only to find that the tight-knit community no longer knows him. Branded a stranger in his own past, the villagers refuse to accept him and insist on a trial to uncover whether he is truly who he claims to be.

More About This Film

Trial of Hein is a German drama about Hein, a man who returns to his remote island home after fourteen years away. The community no longer recognizes him, and his inability to reconcile his own memories with theirs leads the villagers to question whether he really is the person he claims to be.

Kai Stänicke directs the film as a theatrical, almost allegorical exploration of identity, memory, belonging, and conformity. Paul Boche leads the cast as Hein, alongside Emilia Schüle and Stephanie Amarell, while the North Sea islands provide a stark visual backdrop.

  • Written and directed by Kai Stänicke.
  • Paul Boche stars as Hein.
  • The film was shot on Norderney and Sylt.
  • The village sets were inspired in part by the deliberately artificial design of Lars von Trier's Dogville.
  • It opened the Perspectives program at the 2026 Berlin International Film Festival.

Where to Watch

Trial of Hein has festival and international arthouse distribution, with home viewing dependent on local rights.