What If Grief Became a Staycation?

Petzold’s new film doesn’t follow a typical thriller formula, but it does have a surprising reveal that shatters the unusual world its characters build. This secret feels increasingly likely as the story progresses, yet no one directly addresses it. The film’s dreamlike atmosphere begins after a car crash, when a woman named Betty (Barbara Auer) offers help. It’s strange that the injured woman, Laura, immediately asks to stay at Betty’s house instead of going to the hospital, and even more surprising that Betty readily agrees, preparing a room and leaving out refreshments. Laura’s confusion could be explained by the trauma of the accident or her pre-existing sadness. However, Betty’s behavior is even more peculiar. She watches Laura sleep with a mixture of shock and wonder, accidentally calling her by a different name, ‘Yelena,’ and later offering clothes that belonged to her daughter.








