Jack (Ivo Pietzcker) looks out for his younger brother Manuel (Georg Arms) while their sweet-hearted but unpredictable 20-something-year-old mother Sanna (Luise Heyer) is distracted by friends and lovers. Social Services recognise Senna’s neglect, and Jack is taken into care. His experiences lead him to run away, get to Manuel and go in search of their mother. A sincere and affecting social drama in the spirit of the Dardennes and Ken Loach, Jack depicts a boy with too much responsibility weighted on the shoulders of somebody so young, and there’s a notable, compelling performance from first time actor Pietzcker. (Notes by Michael Hayden.)

Sales company and print source: Beta Films.

This event is screening as part of IFI Kinofest 2014 (October 9th – 12th), in collaboration with the Goethe-Institut Irland, presenting a short selection of the best in contemporary German cinema.