Beyond This Earth
"Take care of grandma when I'm gone.", says the grandfather to his 30-year-old granddaughter Astrid. She nods. By then, the house's indoor swimming pool has long been empty and the first tiles have ch…
Beyond This Earth
"Take care of grandma when I'm gone.", says the grandfather to his 30-year-old granddaughter Astrid. She nods. By then, the house's indoor swimming pool has long been empty and the first tiles have chipped off. The grandfather is in and out of the hospital frequently. The first gaps in Grandma Carmen's memory become noticeable. The family is scattered far and wide. When her grandpa passes away, Carmen is sent to a retirement home. Without a partner by her side, her dementia progresses visibly. The fact that her beloved husband is no longer alive is just as hard for her to remember as the retirement residence now being home. Despite regular visits, she feels abandoned by her family. Astrid realizes that she has not fulfilled her promise to her grandfather. During a visit to the grandparents' empty house, a photo album catches her eye. It contains childhood photos of her and her two brothers trying their first paddle strokes in the old swimming pool. The green canoe, in which they are sitting in the photos, has been lying unused in her parents' backyard for many years. An idea forms in Astrid's mind: What if she paddles the canoe back to the pier at the "Westensee", where it was christened over 20 years ago? The fact that there is no direct way to get there by water makes the planned adventure trip seem absurd enough, so her mother jokingly suggests taking her 86-year-old grandmother with her. Soon a crazy idea turns serious. Because nothing seems worse than doing nothing. A travel route is worked out, equipment is assembled. Filled with nostalgia and defiance, Astrid wants to find out if and how she can take care of her grandmother. She sets off on a canoe trip together with her younger brother Hendric and Grandma Carmen. Full of confidence, the 86-year-old joins her grandchildren in the canoe every day, even though she has never paddled before. She never tires of commenting extensively on the new experiences. It wobbles and gurgles, the sun shines, and the adventure has begun. The uncertain future recedes into the distance, only the moment counts. Sometimes she wants to bathe in the river, sometimes she'd rather not fall in. Everything seems fine as long as she is allowed to be there. Yet the problems travel with them. It is not easy to maintain Carmen's usual daily rhythm on the journey. She constantly has to reorient herself. The daily changes of location are not easy for her. Despite patient repetition, she can't remember anything recent. While Carmen clearly enjoys the company of her grandchildren on the water, the nights become increasingly stressful for all three of them. The situation escalates when one night Carmen decides to walk home.
Beyond This Earth
Mystery,Sci-Fi
Film Details
"Take care of grandma when I'm gone.", says the grandfather to his 30-year-old granddaughter Astrid. She nods. By then, the house's indoor swimming pool has long been empty and the first tiles have chipped off.
The grandfather is in and out of the hospital frequently. The first gaps in Grandma Carmen's memory become noticeable. The family is scattered far and wide.
When her grandpa passes away, Carmen is sent to a retirement home. Without a partner by her side, her dementia progresses visibly. The fact that her beloved husband is no longer alive is just as hard for her to remember as the retirement residence now being home.
Despite regular visits, she feels abandoned by her family. Astrid realizes that she has not fulfilled her promise to her grandfather. During a visit to the grandparents' empty house, a photo album catches her eye.
It contains childhood photos of her and her two brothers trying their first paddle strokes in the old swimming pool. The green canoe, in which they are sitting in the photos, has been lying unused in her parents' backyard for many years. An idea forms in Astrid's mind: What if she paddles the canoe back to the pier at the "Westensee", where it was christened over 20 years ago? The fact that there is no direct way to get there by water makes the planned adventure trip seem absurd enough, so her mother jokingly suggests taking her 86-year-old grandmother with her.
Soon a crazy idea turns serious. Because nothing seems worse than doing nothing. A travel route is worked out, equipment is assembled.
Filled with nostalgia and defiance, Astrid wants to find out if and how she can take care of her grandmother. She sets off on a canoe trip together with her younger brother Hendric and Grandma Carmen. Full of confidence, the 86-year-old joins her grandchildren in the canoe every day, even though she has never paddled before.
She never tires of commenting extensively on the new experiences. It wobbles and gurgles, the sun shines, and the adventure has begun. The uncertain future recedes into the distance, only the moment counts.
Sometimes she wants to bathe in the river, sometimes she'd rather not fall in. Everything seems fine as long as she is allowed to be there. Yet the problems travel with them.
It is not easy to maintain Carmen's usual daily rhythm on the journey. She constantly has to reorient herself. The daily changes of location are not easy for her.
Despite patient repetition, she can't remember anything recent. While Carmen clearly enjoys the company of her grandchildren on the water, the nights become increasingly stressful for all three of them. The situation escalates when one night Carmen decides to walk home..