Mother's Baby

Julia and Georg, both in their forties, long for a child. So far, it has not worked out. But the charismatic Dr. Vilfort gives them hope, and indeed the innovative treatment at his clinic is successful – Julia becomes pregnant. Then the birth turns traumatic. Shortly after delivery, the baby is taken away, and the couple is left overnight without any information about the child’s condition. When the new mother finally holds her healthy newborn in her arms, she feels strangely distant. Why is he so quiet and apathetic? Is this really her son?

What if the birth of a child, instead of bringing the hoped-for family happiness, triggers entirely different emotions – fear and regret, even depression? Johanna Moder’s exploration of this subject is unsettling, emotionally complex, and delightfully dark. Marie Leuenberger («The Divine Order») embodies the protagonist Julia with cool intensity. «Mother’s Baby» celebrated its world premiere in competition at the Berlinale 2025: an imaginative thriller about becoming a parent from Austria, Switzerland, and Germany.