Film archive, 2025

Phantoms of July

Sehnsucht in Sangerhausen

Director Julian RADLMAIER

1Festival entries

★Avg. rating

In the 18th century, Lotte, who serves a prince, dreams of escaping to France with her beloved as she believes that revolutionary France would offer far more freedom than Germany. Pursued while on the run, she hides in a cave. The story then shifts to the present day, following the lives of Ursula, a waitress, and Neda, a novice YouTuber from Iran in need of a work visa. In Phantoms of July, director Julian Radlmaier focuses on women making lives for themselves in a central German city. Although initially depicted as ordinary workers trapped within the structures of feudal society and capitalist systems, they later begin searching for ways to reclaim their lives after pivotal events. The first half of the film explores their desires and the transformations that follow, while the latter half adopts the style of a road movie, bringing the characters together to see what kind of chemistry emerges. A unique adventure tale that maintains its lightheartedness throughout while addressing Germany′s political history and social issues.