Sandra Hüller stars in Pawel Palikowski film Fatherland

German actor Sandra Hüller stars as Erika Mann in the new film Fatherland, directed by Oscar-winning Polish filmmaker Pawel Palikowski. The story follows Erika, a war journalist and chauffeur, as she accompanies her father, the celebrated German novelist Thomas Mann, during his return to a divided Germany in 1949.

In the film, Erika serves as a caretaker for her father, managing his logistics, translations, and security amidst death threats. The narrative explores the complexities of returning to a fractured homeland, as Thomas Mann receives honors in both West and East Germany. The plot also involves Erika’s encounter with her ex-husband, a former theater legend with ties to Nazi propaganda who has returned to Germany following time in a Russian gulag.