Wenn du Angst hast nimmst du dein Herz in den Mund und lächelst
If You Are Afraid You Put Your Heart into Your Mouth and Smile
Slowly, 12-year-old Anna and her deaf mum are starting to feel a bit cramped in their flat. It’s not just the lack of privacy that’s causing friction – Anna has just started secondary school and quickly realises what’s important now: brand-name clothes and a sense of belonging. In her debut, director and author Marie Luise Lehner stages a confrontation with classist structures, which Anna tackles with a mixture of shame and grit. She finds an ally in Mara, who challenges others with feminist issues and who also lives alone with her queer mother. Lehner stands by her heroes unconditionally, giving them space for introspection and outbursts, allowing them to row back and reconcile. (Berlinale)
Director's Biography
Marie Louise Lehner (*1995) lives and works in Vienna and Linz. She is currently pursuing Master's degrees in directing and visual arts at the Vienna Film Academy and the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna. Parallel to her prize-winning work as a filmmaker, the author of two novels is also a member of the feminist punk band Schapka. Director's Filmography (Selection)
Wenn du Angst hast nimmst du dein Herz in den Mund und lächelst (If You Are Afraid You Put Your Heart into Your Mouth and Smile, 2025) - Im Traum sind alle Quallen feucht (In their dreams all jellyfish are wet, 2023, short; CE24) - Mein Fell – Schapka feat. Kerosin95 (2022, short; CE23) - Mein Hosenschlitz ist offen. Wie mein Herz. (The zip of my pants is open. Like my heart., 2022, short; CE22) - Geh Vau (Sexual Intercourse, 2018, short; CE19) - Squirten – Schapka (2017, short; CE18) - Don't Fck With The Diva* (2017, short, with Amber Jenner, Liesa Kovacs; CE18) - Kaugummizigaretten (2016, short; CE17, CROSSING EUROPE Award - Local Artist 2017)
Wenn du Angst hast nimmst du dein Herz in den Mund und lächelst (If You Are Afraid You Put Your Heart into Your Mouth and Smile, 2025) - Im Traum sind alle Quallen feucht (In their dreams all jellyfish are wet, 2023, short; CE24) - Mein Fell – Schapka feat. Kerosin95 (2022, short; CE23) - Mein Hosenschlitz ist offen. Wie mein Herz. (The zip of my pants is open. Like my heart., 2022, short; CE22) - Geh Vau (Sexual Intercourse, 2018, short; CE19) - Squirten – Schapka (2017, short; CE18) - Don't Fck With The Diva* (2017, short, with Amber Jenner, Liesa Kovacs; CE18) - Kaugummizigaretten (2016, short; CE17, CROSSING EUROPE Award - Local Artist 2017)
CROSSING EUROPE AWARDS
2025: CROSSING EUROPE Award Local Artist - Young Talent
Local Artists 2025
Marie Luise Lehner
Austria 2025
color
87 minutes
German / German Sign Language / English OV with English subtitles & German subtitles for the hard of hearing
Screenings / Tickets
Film guest(s) present: Marie Luise Lehner (Director)
Film guest(s) present: Marie Luise Lehner (Director)
To purchase tickets, please click on the desired date.
Screenplay Marie Luise Lehner
Cinematography Simone Hart
Editing Jana Libnik, Joana Scrinzi, Alexandra Schneider
Sound/Sounddesign Ines Vorreiter, Lenja Gathmann
With Siena Popović, Mariya Menner, Jessica Paar, Daniel Sea
Producer(s) Katharina Posch, Michael Kitzberger, Wolfgang Widerhofer, Markus Glaser, Nikolaus Geyrhalter
Production
Nikolaus Geyrhalter Filmproduktion
World Premiere
Berlinale 2025
Tags
German spoken in film, German spoken / German subtitles, LGBTIQA+, Motherhood