Trial of Hein
Kinofest 2026

After 14 years on the mainland, Hein returns to his hometown—the only village on a remote North Sea island. To his surprise, the close-knit village community doesn’t recognize him. Even his childhood friend Friedemann distances himself from him, even though they were once inseparable.

To find out whether Hein really is who he claims to be, the villagers convene a village court. But as the trial progresses, the inconsistencies mount.

Hein’s memories of his youth differ fundamentally from those of the summoned witnesses. With each day of the trial, the mood in the village deteriorates, and suspicions turn into open hostility.
Everyone is convinced that Hein is a fraud. Fearing he will lose everything, Hein desperately sets out to find evidence that confirms his memories—until he realizes what he has long refused to see.