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Highly Explosive ~ Blindgǎnger (2025)
In the center of Hamburg, the discovery of an unexploded bomb from the Second World War not only leads to a far-reaching evacuation, but also to an interpersonal state of emergency.
A tragicomic episodic film that weaves together stories of resilience and connection in a city on the brink. Captivating, human, and deeply moving.
In the heart of 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 BLINDGÄNGER, 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, BLINDGÄNGER 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.
Director Biography - Kerstin Polte
Director Biography - Kerstin Polte
Director and screenwriter Kerstin Polte completed her film education in the film class at HfG Karlsruhe and at the Zurich University of the Arts. She was a fellow at the Munich Screenwriting Workshop and the European directing program EKRAN. Her graduation film, 510 METERS ABOVE THE SEA, was screened at over 150 international film festivals and marked the beginning of her successful career. LAST ROUND premiered at the prestigious Locarno Film Festival. In 2016, she released the award-winning documentary KEIN ZICKENFOX, which showcases the world's largest women’s wind orchestra.
Kerstin's first feature film, CLOUD WHISPERS, was critically acclaimed and won several prestigious awards, including the Bavarian Film Award for Best Emerging Director.
As an advocate for queer and feminist narratives, Kerstin Polte directed various episodes of the series WIR and BECOMING CHARLIE, the latter receiving numerous awards and a nomination for the German Television Award for Best Drama Series. Her work captivates both audiences and critics. She has established herself as an innovative and influential filmmaker in the German film landscape.
Kerstin Polte is a member of the German Film Academy, serves on the board of ProQuote Film, and lives in Berlin with her two children and a very old cat.
Director Statement
BLINDGÄNGER is a film about crisis – and about what remains possible, despite everything. Personal, societal, and interpersonal upheavals define our times. Whether in the streets, in politics, or at the dinner table with family –little bombs are ticking everywhere.
And yet – or perhaps because of that – this film tells a story of hope in a state of emergency. What happens when, in spite of fear, anger, and disorientation, we move toward one another? When we don't look away, but choose to see – maybe even with a small smile?
The film explores the tensions that simmer beneath the surface – in relationships, within ourselves, in our attempts to live together. It’s about people who are strangers – and who, in a moment of deepest uncertainty, suddenly recognize each other. And yes, sometimes things explode. But sometimes, something new is born. Something tender. A connection where once there was only distance.
For me, BLINDGÄNGER is deeply personal. My own family history echoes throughout it.And at the same time, the film is bigger than I am. It’s the result of a collaborative adventure with people who became family along the way. Together we told stories, laughed, cried, improvised – and created a film that doesn’t strive for perfection, but for life. A kind of survival song. A puzzle made of courage, failure, new beginnings – and a whole lot of hope.
Because sometimes, a single glance is enough. A “Hello.” A sincere “How are you?”
Because who knows – maybe there’s a rabbit sitting in the shop window.
Please tell us your motivation for making your film:
BLINDGÄNGER grew out of something deeply personal — my own family history resonates throughout the film — but it became something larger than myself. We live in a world where small bombs are ticking everywhere: at the dinner table, in politics, on the street. I wanted to make a film that doesn't look away from that reality, but refuses to surrender to it. My motivation was to tell a story of resilience and humanity that is honest rather than sentimental, and alive rather than perfect. And the way we made it was inseparable from what the film is about. With a team that was 80% FLINTA* and queer, working on a low budget but with enormous collective commitment, the process itself became part of the film's DNA. The trust, the vulnerability, the creativity born out of limitation — all of that is woven into every frame. This film was a collaborative adventure — we laughed, cried, improvised together — and the people who made it became my family. It is a kind of survival song. A puzzle of courage, failure, and new beginnings. Because sometimes all it takes is a glance, a "hello," a genuine "how are you?" — and we almost missed each other entirely. *Women, Lesbian, Inter, Non-binary, Trans and Agender
What are the themes and central messages you wanted to convey with your submission?:
Highly Explosive uses the discovery of an unexploded WWII bomb in Hamburg as a metaphor for the buried traumas, fears, and longings we carry within us — individually and collectively. The film explores how personal, social, and interpersonal ruptures define our times: loneliness, mistrust, illness, displacement, grief, and the quiet violence of being unseen. Yet at its heart, it is a film about hope and human connection. Through a kaleidoscope of interwoven fates — queer, diverse, multigenerational — Highly Explosive asks: what happens when, despite fear and disorientation, we turn toward each other rather than away? The central message is both simple and urgent: solidarity, warmth, and genuine attention are not small things. They can be lifelines.
Please list ANY possible CONTENT / TRIGGER Warnings:
Panic attac, suspense, mental condition
Credits:
Kerstin Polte
Director
Cloud whispers, Becoming Charlie, sookee- from seahorses & closets
Kerstin Polte
Writer
Cloud whispers
Andrea Schütte
Producer
Pacification, Garage People
Dirk Decker
Producer
Pacification, Garage People
Sarah Born
Producer
Cloud whispers
Rajko Jazbec
Producer
Cloud whispers
Anne Ratte-Pollte
Key Cast
"Lane"
Black Box; I was, I am, I will be; Undine, That kind of summer
Haley Louise Jones
Key Cast
"Ava"
Ivy wie Ivy; Bones and Names; Liebes Kind
Claudia Michelsen
Key Cast
"Hanne"
In a land that no longer exists; beat, Kudamm 63; The tower
Barbara Nüsse
Key Cast
"Margit"
Dark
Ivar Wafaei
Key Cast
"Junis"
Rheingold
Bernhard Schütz
Key Cast
"Otto"
The system; the black square
Karl Markovics
Key Cast
"Viktor"
What you can see from here; The fox; The counterfeiters
Lukas von Horbatschewsky
Key Cast
"William"
Katharina Bühler
Director of Photography
Daniela Herzberg
Production Design
Tanja Liebermann
Costume design
Julia Wiedwald
Editing
Aurora Vögeli
Editing
Marion Haack
Casting director
Corinna Zink
Original sound
Ephrem Lüchinger
Composers
Daniel Hobi
Composers
Stefanie Gredig
Hair and Make-up
Pia Paprzik
Hair and Make-up
Specs:
Project Title (Original Language):
Blindgänger
Project Type:
Feature
Genres:
Drama, Action, LGBTQIA+, Ensemble, Episodic
Runtime:
1 hour 35 minutes
Completion Date:
January 7, 2024
Production Budget:
2,000,000 EUR
Country of Origin:
Germany
Country of Filming:
Germany
Language:
English, German
Shooting Format:
Digital
Aspect Ratio:
1:2,35
Film Color:
Color
First-time Filmmaker:
No
Student Project:
No
https://www.missingfilms.de/index.php/filme/10-filme-neu/396-blindgaenger
https://www.instagram.com/blindgaenger_film
News & Reviews
"Premiere Highly Explosive at int. Filmfest Hamburg"
Filmlöwin
https://filmloewin.de/ffhh-2024-blindgaenger/
"Highly explosive opens ABF Festival"
Spot Media
"Review Highly Explosive"
Filmlöwin
https://filmloewin.de/ffhh-2024-blindgaenger/
"Film Premiere "Blindgänger": Fears, Love, and Connection in an Extreme Situation"
L-Mag
"The multi-layered drama Highly Explosive showcases the strengths of Kerstin Polte."
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
"The Explosives of Life: Kerstin Polte’s gripping cinematic drama Blindgänger"
Badische Zeitung
"Highly Explosive: In her dramedy, Kerstin Polte explores the many facets of humanity – a poignant film with remarkable portraits of women"
Die Rheinpfalz
"Of buried legacies – both underground and in the soul – filmmaker Kerstin Polte has created a cinematic gem."
Braunschweiger Zeitung
- Year2025
- Runtime95 minutes
- LanguageGerman, English
- CountryGermany
- Subtitle LanguageEnglish
- Content WarningTrigger, War, Family Drama, Mental Health, Panic attac, suspense, mental condition, Homophobia
- Notehttps://www.missingfilms.de/index.php/filme/10-filme-neu/396-blindgaenger
- Social Media
- DirectorKerstin Polte
- ScreenwriterKerstin Polte
- ProducerAndrea Schütte, Dirk Decker, Sarah Born
- CastAnne Ratte-Polle, Haley Louise Jones, Bernhard Schütz
- CinematographerKatharina Bühler
- EditorJulia Wiedwald, Aurora Vögeli
- Production DesignDaniela Herzberg
- Sound DesignDaniel Hobi
Highly Explosive ~ Blindgǎnger (2025)
In the center of Hamburg, the discovery of an unexploded bomb from the Second World War not only leads to a far-reaching evacuation, but also to an interpersonal state of emergency.
A tragicomic episodic film that weaves together stories of resilience and connection in a city on the brink. Captivating, human, and deeply moving.
In the heart of 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 BLINDGÄNGER, 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, BLINDGÄNGER 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.
Director Biography - Kerstin Polte
Director Biography - Kerstin Polte
Director and screenwriter Kerstin Polte completed her film education in the film class at HfG Karlsruhe and at the Zurich University of the Arts. She was a fellow at the Munich Screenwriting Workshop and the European directing program EKRAN. Her graduation film, 510 METERS ABOVE THE SEA, was screened at over 150 international film festivals and marked the beginning of her successful career. LAST ROUND premiered at the prestigious Locarno Film Festival. In 2016, she released the award-winning documentary KEIN ZICKENFOX, which showcases the world's largest women’s wind orchestra.
Kerstin's first feature film, CLOUD WHISPERS, was critically acclaimed and won several prestigious awards, including the Bavarian Film Award for Best Emerging Director.
As an advocate for queer and feminist narratives, Kerstin Polte directed various episodes of the series WIR and BECOMING CHARLIE, the latter receiving numerous awards and a nomination for the German Television Award for Best Drama Series. Her work captivates both audiences and critics. She has established herself as an innovative and influential filmmaker in the German film landscape.
Kerstin Polte is a member of the German Film Academy, serves on the board of ProQuote Film, and lives in Berlin with her two children and a very old cat.
Director Statement
BLINDGÄNGER is a film about crisis – and about what remains possible, despite everything. Personal, societal, and interpersonal upheavals define our times. Whether in the streets, in politics, or at the dinner table with family –little bombs are ticking everywhere.
And yet – or perhaps because of that – this film tells a story of hope in a state of emergency. What happens when, in spite of fear, anger, and disorientation, we move toward one another? When we don't look away, but choose to see – maybe even with a small smile?
The film explores the tensions that simmer beneath the surface – in relationships, within ourselves, in our attempts to live together. It’s about people who are strangers – and who, in a moment of deepest uncertainty, suddenly recognize each other. And yes, sometimes things explode. But sometimes, something new is born. Something tender. A connection where once there was only distance.
For me, BLINDGÄNGER is deeply personal. My own family history echoes throughout it.And at the same time, the film is bigger than I am. It’s the result of a collaborative adventure with people who became family along the way. Together we told stories, laughed, cried, improvised – and created a film that doesn’t strive for perfection, but for life. A kind of survival song. A puzzle made of courage, failure, new beginnings – and a whole lot of hope.
Because sometimes, a single glance is enough. A “Hello.” A sincere “How are you?”
Because who knows – maybe there’s a rabbit sitting in the shop window.
Please tell us your motivation for making your film:
BLINDGÄNGER grew out of something deeply personal — my own family history resonates throughout the film — but it became something larger than myself. We live in a world where small bombs are ticking everywhere: at the dinner table, in politics, on the street. I wanted to make a film that doesn't look away from that reality, but refuses to surrender to it. My motivation was to tell a story of resilience and humanity that is honest rather than sentimental, and alive rather than perfect. And the way we made it was inseparable from what the film is about. With a team that was 80% FLINTA* and queer, working on a low budget but with enormous collective commitment, the process itself became part of the film's DNA. The trust, the vulnerability, the creativity born out of limitation — all of that is woven into every frame. This film was a collaborative adventure — we laughed, cried, improvised together — and the people who made it became my family. It is a kind of survival song. A puzzle of courage, failure, and new beginnings. Because sometimes all it takes is a glance, a "hello," a genuine "how are you?" — and we almost missed each other entirely. *Women, Lesbian, Inter, Non-binary, Trans and Agender
What are the themes and central messages you wanted to convey with your submission?:
Highly Explosive uses the discovery of an unexploded WWII bomb in Hamburg as a metaphor for the buried traumas, fears, and longings we carry within us — individually and collectively. The film explores how personal, social, and interpersonal ruptures define our times: loneliness, mistrust, illness, displacement, grief, and the quiet violence of being unseen. Yet at its heart, it is a film about hope and human connection. Through a kaleidoscope of interwoven fates — queer, diverse, multigenerational — Highly Explosive asks: what happens when, despite fear and disorientation, we turn toward each other rather than away? The central message is both simple and urgent: solidarity, warmth, and genuine attention are not small things. They can be lifelines.
Please list ANY possible CONTENT / TRIGGER Warnings:
Panic attac, suspense, mental condition
Credits:
Kerstin Polte
Director
Cloud whispers, Becoming Charlie, sookee- from seahorses & closets
Kerstin Polte
Writer
Cloud whispers
Andrea Schütte
Producer
Pacification, Garage People
Dirk Decker
Producer
Pacification, Garage People
Sarah Born
Producer
Cloud whispers
Rajko Jazbec
Producer
Cloud whispers
Anne Ratte-Pollte
Key Cast
"Lane"
Black Box; I was, I am, I will be; Undine, That kind of summer
Haley Louise Jones
Key Cast
"Ava"
Ivy wie Ivy; Bones and Names; Liebes Kind
Claudia Michelsen
Key Cast
"Hanne"
In a land that no longer exists; beat, Kudamm 63; The tower
Barbara Nüsse
Key Cast
"Margit"
Dark
Ivar Wafaei
Key Cast
"Junis"
Rheingold
Bernhard Schütz
Key Cast
"Otto"
The system; the black square
Karl Markovics
Key Cast
"Viktor"
What you can see from here; The fox; The counterfeiters
Lukas von Horbatschewsky
Key Cast
"William"
Katharina Bühler
Director of Photography
Daniela Herzberg
Production Design
Tanja Liebermann
Costume design
Julia Wiedwald
Editing
Aurora Vögeli
Editing
Marion Haack
Casting director
Corinna Zink
Original sound
Ephrem Lüchinger
Composers
Daniel Hobi
Composers
Stefanie Gredig
Hair and Make-up
Pia Paprzik
Hair and Make-up
Specs:
Project Title (Original Language):
Blindgänger
Project Type:
Feature
Genres:
Drama, Action, LGBTQIA+, Ensemble, Episodic
Runtime:
1 hour 35 minutes
Completion Date:
January 7, 2024
Production Budget:
2,000,000 EUR
Country of Origin:
Germany
Country of Filming:
Germany
Language:
English, German
Shooting Format:
Digital
Aspect Ratio:
1:2,35
Film Color:
Color
First-time Filmmaker:
No
Student Project:
No
https://www.missingfilms.de/index.php/filme/10-filme-neu/396-blindgaenger
https://www.instagram.com/blindgaenger_film
News & Reviews
"Premiere Highly Explosive at int. Filmfest Hamburg"
Filmlöwin
https://filmloewin.de/ffhh-2024-blindgaenger/
"Highly explosive opens ABF Festival"
Spot Media
"Review Highly Explosive"
Filmlöwin
https://filmloewin.de/ffhh-2024-blindgaenger/
"Film Premiere "Blindgänger": Fears, Love, and Connection in an Extreme Situation"
L-Mag
"The multi-layered drama Highly Explosive showcases the strengths of Kerstin Polte."
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
"The Explosives of Life: Kerstin Polte’s gripping cinematic drama Blindgänger"
Badische Zeitung
"Highly Explosive: In her dramedy, Kerstin Polte explores the many facets of humanity – a poignant film with remarkable portraits of women"
Die Rheinpfalz
"Of buried legacies – both underground and in the soul – filmmaker Kerstin Polte has created a cinematic gem."
Braunschweiger Zeitung
- Year2025
- Runtime95 minutes
- LanguageGerman, English
- CountryGermany
- Subtitle LanguageEnglish
- Content WarningTrigger, War, Family Drama, Mental Health, Panic attac, suspense, mental condition, Homophobia
- Notehttps://www.missingfilms.de/index.php/filme/10-filme-neu/396-blindgaenger
- Social Media
- DirectorKerstin Polte
- ScreenwriterKerstin Polte
- ProducerAndrea Schütte, Dirk Decker, Sarah Born
- CastAnne Ratte-Polle, Haley Louise Jones, Bernhard Schütz
- CinematographerKatharina Bühler
- EditorJulia Wiedwald, Aurora Vögeli
- Production DesignDaniela Herzberg
- Sound DesignDaniel Hobi
