Small Lights

Valerie is a self-confident and modern woman - she commutes between L.A., where she works, and Berlin, where she lives with her partner above the rooftops of the city. When he falls ill and falls into a coma, she wakes up at his bedside. Valerie decides to return to L.A. one last time, burn all her bridges there and move to Berlin for good. She decides to record a video diary for her absence and begins to narrate for her loved one the day before her departure. Intended as simple messages of love, Valerie's memories are suddenly unleashed in the midst of the recordings. Playfully, she loses her shyness in front of the camera, her emotions burst forth and allow her to relive the story of her great love. What began as a game becomes a reckoning with life and love.

Directed by Josef Rusnak, Small Lights leans on a strong ensemble — Franka Potente, David Brezman, Guido Föhrweißer — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about screen titles of 2010.