Cocoon

Directed by Leonie Krippendorff
Film Movement
2020
95 Minutes
Germany
German
Drama, LGBTQIA2S+, Romance, Coming of Age
Not Rated
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DVD
$29.95
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Described as "seductive and well-acted" (The Guardian), Cocoon tells the coming-of-age transformation of Nora, a 14-year-old from Berlin, over the course of one blisteringly hot summer. A shy girl with a troubled mother and loving but boy-crazy older sister, Nora must contend with the many tribulations of early teenage years largely by herself. She gets her period for the first time, falls in love with another girl, has her heart broken, and, inevitably, learns to stand up for herself and what she wants. Shot with a deep understanding of teenage-girl desires, Cocoon is a sun-soaked tale of one girl's self-discovery on the cusp of young adulthood.

Cast

  • Lena Urzendowsky
  • Jella Haase
  • Lena Klenke
  • Elina Vildanova
DVD Features

Summer of Bees
Directed by Ida-Maria Olva
Finland
Finnish with English subtitles
22 minutes

When recent college dropout Eedi starts beekeeping with her mother, the two begin to reconcile their differences and build new bonds.

Discs: 1

  • Highest Rating
    "Krippendorff's feature debut feels fresh and authentic, both in terms of the performances, and in the film's restless sense of place, the culturally mixed Kreuzberg neighbourhood of Kottbusser Tor."
    Wendy Ide, Screen Daily
  • Highest Rating
    "An authentic, queer coming-of-age story takes place in the summer streets of Berlin in the award-winning, Cocoon: writer and director Leonie Krippendorff’s second full-length feature. Following a young 14-year-old girl’s metamorphosis as she experiences quintessential Berlin teen life, the film is a tender comment on sexuality, womanhood and growing up in general. The drama, with its strong performances and artistic shots, creates a warm yet slow-burn viewing experience and positions itself as a strong love letter to both the city and its new generation. "
    Emma-Jane Betts, The Upcoming
  • Highest Rating
    "The acting in Leonie Krippendorff’s tale of sexual awakening is outstanding, as a girl comes out during a hot Berlin summer."
    Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
  • Highest Rating
    "Krippendorff crafts a stunningly alluring narrative of feminine intimacy."
    Emily Maskell, Flip Screen
  • Highest Rating
    "[A] balmy introduction to adult feelings of desire and belonging."
    Teo Bugbee, The New York Times
  • Highest Rating
    "Krippendorff's film emerges as its own uniquely tender thing: a depiction of sexual awakening that beautifully captures the moment when adolescence tips into adulthood."
    Josh Winning, Radio Times
  • Highest Rating
    "Leonie Krippendorff's engaging coming-of-age drama is one of the best teen dramas of the year."
    Matthew Turner, VODzilla
  • Highest Rating
    "Leonie Krippendorf’s queer teen romance is a sun-kissed story of growth and metamorphosis."
    Ariel Klinghoffer, Little White Lies
  • Highest Rating
    "Writer-director Leonie Krippendorff’s second feature offers a warm and authentic look at that awkward middle ground between adolescence and adulthood, as bodies mature and minds fight through a jungle of uncertain thoughts and emotions. "
    Steven Sheehan, The Digital Fix
  • Highest Rating
    "A perfectly pitched teenage drama that dodges adolescent film clichés with delicacy and sensitivity. You’ll remember the firsts in your life, smile, and be thankful for hindsight."
    The Tempo House
  • Highest Rating
    "Edgy, slick but wide-eyed, this is a whimsical romance played against the salacious calamity of teenagehood. "
    Ben Turner, The Pink Lens
  • Highest Rating
    "This is a tender and softly affecting addition to the crowded coming-of-age genre."
    Andrew Stover, Film Threat
  • Highest Rating
    "Lena Urzendowsky gives a rich and heartfelt performance."
    Valerie Kalfrin, AWFJ Women on Film
  • Highest Rating
    "Urzendowsky is a revelation as Nora."
    Lee Jutton, Film Inquiry

Awards & Recognition

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