Reelout Queer Film Festival: Highly Explosive

Event Description

Highly Explosive

In the heart of modern-day Hamburg, the discovery of an unexploded World War II bomb not only leads to a large-scale evacuation but also triggers an emotional state of emergency. As residents are forced to confront their long-suppressed fears and traumas, unexpected encounters arise amid the chaos—meetings that would never have happened under normal circumstances.

With HIGHLY EXPLOSIVE, award-winning director Kerstin Polte presents a moving and profound drama, brought to life by an outstanding and diverse ensemble cast — including Anne Ratte-Polle, Haley Louise Jones, Bernhard Schütz, Claudia Michelsen, Daniel Sträßer, Karl Markovics, Ivar Wafaei, Lukas von Horbatschewsky, and many more.

Like a kaleidoscope of fates, HIGHLY EXPLOSIVE tells its story with sensitivity, subtle tension, and a touch of warm humor. From various perspectives, the film explores intergenerational trauma, the search for human connection, and unexpected solidarity amidst chaos.

With empathy and narrative finesse, the director intertwines personal destinies with the pressing question of emotional resilience in an uncertain world — casting a curious, tender gaze upon what binds us together when everything else seems to fall apart.

Year:
2025
Runtime:
95 minutes
Language:
German, English
Country:
Germany
Director:
Kerstin Polte
Screenwriter:
Kerstin Polte
Producer:
Andrea Schütte, Dirk Decker, Sarah Born
Cast:
Anne Ratte-Polle, Haley Louise Jones, Bernhard Schütz
Cinematographer:
Katharina Bühler
Editor:
Julia Wiedwald, Aurora Vögeli
Production Design:
Daniela Herzberg
Sound Design:
Daniel Hobi