Three Ways of Returning

Three attempts at reconnecting with often traumatic pasts, all leading to flights from home and the need for personal reinvention. A documentary triptych of many layers and emotions, whose parts connect with each other in unexpected ways.

Directed by Andrea Luka Zimmerman, Mania Akbari, Xiaolu Guo, Three Ways of Returning leans on a strong ensemble — Mania Akbari, Xiaolu Guo, Andrea Luka Zimmerman — 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 documentary titles of 2026.