It’s the hot summer of 2018 – and passion and adolescent desire are about to emerge from one troubled teen in the heartland of a Berlin suburb in the new LGBTQ+ drama, written and directed by Leonie Krippendorff, KOKON / COCOON.
Nora (Lena Urzendowsky) is your average younger sister and emotionally challenged teen who hangs on to older sister Jule (Lena Klenke) and Jule’s best friend Aylin (Elina Vildanova) in the heart of a Berlin suburb which is clearly got its’ boundaries for both the youth that exist within it.
Jule and Nora’s absent, alcoholic mother spends more time out in her local bar, but does take a distant interest in her daughters, who hang out with their clique of friends who plays games like ‘whack the finger’ which leads Nora to get an injury.
Nora keeps caterpillars at home in jars, something which Jule finds a bit distasteful, even though it was something they cared about together when they were children.
However, Nora is also undergoing the natural development, which manifests itself in her period, causing major embarrassment to Jule during one forgettable incident at school. Enter older student Romy (Jella Haase) who takes Nora under her wing and the two of them decide to hang out at a local pool. It is here that a greater emotional bond begins to form – and perhaps a bit more enlightenment…
The film’s imagery which incorporates the caterpillar’s transformation into butterfly very much mirrors the context of a very tender and honest analysis of German adolescence and shot in Academy (1.33:1) ratio), coupled with a very real and grounded reality in terms of how the youth speak.
KOKON / COCOON is a very simple tale of first love and the reality that sets in as you make your first discoveries of what true love will be in your journey. Krippendorf encapsulates a community that seems very contented with their lot in life, even though they knowingly are contained. The young cast are very appealing and Krippendorff does admirably with her second feature here.
COCOON screens as part of the Fringe! Queer Arts & Film Fest on 14 November and opens In Cinemas & On Demand on 11th December via Peccadillo Pictures.
