Above Us Only Sky

Who was the man Martha loved and lived with for years? And can he simply be replaced by another? After her husband disappears, Martha begins to realize how little she knew him, and how his life with her was a charade. But instead of coming to terms with her loss, she meets another man who unwittingly keeps her bound to the past...

One could say of Martha’s life that it’s well-balanced, fulfilling – happy. She enjoys her teaching Felix Knopp job, has a group of loyal, loving friends and, above all, she has Paul. The man she loves and has been living with for several years now. With Paul at her side, the positive, energetic Martha has no fear of the future. Then two policewomen show up at her door, and with just a few words tear her life apart, into a before and after.

The man Martha has been living with is a phantom, his life a lie – a presence that seems to have glided out of her life without leaving a trace. As she tries to cope, she meets Alexander, and a simple, single gesture of his hand suffices to remind her of Paul. Can Alexander fill the gap left by Paul? Unaware of the recent turmoil in Martha’s life, Alexander begins to fall in love with her. They quickly pick up the rites and rituals of a couple: theater, dinner, the keys to her flat. But if there is to be a future with Alexander, Martha must find a way to come to terms with the past ...

Awards:

Label Europa Cinemas - Jan Schomburg, Berlin International Film Festival, 2011