Phoenix by Christian Petzold

The TIFF Story in 50 Films --a journey through TIFF’s most influential moments-- runs June to August 2025 and includes Christian Petzold's masterpiece Phoenix. Curated by TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey, with input and insight from TIFF programmers past and present, this series will showcase 50 landmark films from around the world that played a significant role in connecting with audiences, and reflect the story of TIFF.

Phoenix by Christian Petzold
Germany2013, 98min
starringNina Hoss, Ronald Zehrfeld, Nina Kunzendorf, Michael Maertensand others
with recorded introduction by the director.

Nelly Lenz is a concentration camp survivor who has been left severely injured with a disfigured face. Lene Winter, who works for the Jewish Agency, takes her to Berlin. Following facial reconstruction surgery, Nelly begins the search for her husband Johnny. When she finally does find him, Johnny does not recognize her. Nevertheless he approaches her with a proposal. Since she resembles his wife, whom he believes to be dead, he asks her to help him claim his wife's considerable inheritance. Nelly agrees, and becomes her own doppelganger – she needs to know if Johnny ever loved her, or if he betrayed her. Nelly wants her life back. The more similarities to her dead counterpart she reveals, the more desperate and confusing their relationship becomes. Will Johnny confess his love? Or his guilt?

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