Goethe on Demand

Curated to counter the overwhelming wars, crises, and polarization that characterize our everyday lives, “Alles Liebe” is a new yearlong Goethe on Demand series that showcases the most beautiful feeling in the world in its many facets—romantic love stories, unconventional relationships, and stories of care, friendship, and loyalty.

 
Joya Thome’s 2022 documentary One in a Million explores the parallel journeys of two teenage girls—Whitney Bjerken from the USA and Yara Storp from Germany—who, despite the vast distance between them, are united by their passion for gymnastics and the expansive world of social media. Whitney, a renowned YouTuber and gymnast, has just hit one million followers on her channel. Yara, deeply inspired by Whitney, manages a fan account while navigating her own personal growth, including her first romantic feelings towards another girl. As both girls delve deeper into the digital realm, they embark on a quest for self-discovery, confronting themes of success, loneliness, friendship, and identity.  

The film has been lauded for its authentic portrayal of adolescence in the digital age, earning accolades such as the ECFA Award for Best European Children’s Film at LUCAS – International Festival for Young Film Lovers.

The Süddeutsche Zeitung praised One in a Million as “a sensitive coming-of-age portrait of two adolescents that gets very close to its protagonists and takes their striving for success, their longing and loneliness seriously.”

One in a Million
Dir. Joya Thome
Germany, 2022
85 min.