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Poster for The Trouble with Being Born

The Trouble with Being Born

Seen it?

2020 | 94 min | Science Fiction, Drama

Saturday Specialearly rating

Why it’s a Saturday Special

Critics loved it (92% on Rotten Tomatoes), despite a box office flop. A strong pick for the weekend.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for sci-fi fans. If you loved Ex Machina or The Man Who Fell to Earth, start here.
The mood
Mind-bending.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 34 min.
What might put you off
It's in German, so expect subtitles (or a dub).

Elli is an android and lives with a man she calls her father. Together they drift through the summer. During the day they swim in the pool and at night he takes her to bed. She shares his memories and anything else he programs her to recall. Memories that mean everything to him but nothing to her. Yet, one night she sets off into the woods following a fading echo… The story of a machine and the ghosts we all carry within us.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsVery strong

    92% on Rotten Tomatoes

  • AudiencesNot counted

    Not measured yet: not enough ratings

  • AwardsWeak

    1 win and 0 nominations from smaller awards and festivals

  • Reach & staying powerWeak

    Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; interest faded quickly after launch

  • Buzz & cultural impactBelow par

    About 14K people sought it out in the past year, and interest is climbing

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Sandra Wollner

  • Lena WatsonElli / Emil, Android
  • Dominik WartaGeorg
  • Ingrid BurkhardFrau Schikowa
  • Jana McKinnonElli
  • Simon HatzlToni
  • Susanne GschwendtnerBirgit (uncredited)