Winter's Daughter (ATOM Study Guide)

Winter's Daughter (2010) is a German-Polish feature film directed by Johannes Schmid.

Winter's Daughter is suitable for senior secondary students undertaking English, Ethics, German, Literature and Media.

Teachers may find the film relevant to units of work for junior and middle secondary students in the strand of Physical, Personal and Social Learning and in the following VELS domains:

• English
• LOTE – German
• The Arts – Media
• The Humanities

Language: German with English subtitles

Length: 90 minutes

Synopsis

Eleven-year-old Kattaka is celebrating Christmas at home in Berlin when her mother receives a phone call from an old flame, Alexei. The heavily pregnant Margarete becomes upset. Alexei is Kattaka's biological father but Kattaka has been raised to believe that Margarete's husband Daniel is her father. It is time to tell Kattaka the truth about her parentage.

Upset and confused that she is not Daniel's daughter and that her parents have lied to her, Kattaka retreats to the refuge of her bedroom. She refuses to speak to Margarete and Daniel. When Kattaka decides that she is going to Szczecin to find Alexei, Mrs Graumann, an elderly neighbour intervenes. She agrees to drive Kattaka to Szczecin. Kevin, Kattaka's best friend and next-door neighbour, hides in the back of Mrs Graumann's van. He is in the mood for an adventure and certainly keen to escape his chaotic family life. When he finally shows himself, the trio have travelled too far to turn back.

Kattaka's biological father is a Russian sailor from Vladivostock. He works on a container ship that is currently docked at Szczecin. When they arrive in Szczecin and attempt to find Alexei, Mrs Graumann is informed that the ship is now at Gdansk. Kattaka insists that they drive there, and while Mrs Graumann is initially reluctant, she finally agrees that it will be for the best.

It becomes evident that Mrs Graumann is haunted by the events of her past. Memories that she has suppressed flood back and her sadness is obvious to the children. Around her neck, Mrs Graumann wears a key. When Kattaka enquires about the significance of the key, Mrs Graumann refuses to explain.

In Gdansk, the travellers meet thirteen-year-old Waldek and his grandfather. Waldek's grandfather runs a pub called The Bat and Waldek lives with him, while he is studying. Mrs Graumann is tired and the children are hungry. The Bat becomes their home away from home. Waldek is keen to help. His cousin Danuta works for the postal office and delivers mail to the shipping terminal in Gdansk. She sneaks the children past the guard and they make their way onto Alexei's ship.

When Kattaka suddenly finds herself standing across from Alexei, she cannot find the courage to tell him that she is his daughter. She bolts out of his cabin and the others follow. Kattaka, even more confused about who she is and where she belongs, hides. Mrs Graumann comforts her, insisting that it is time for Kattaka to return home. She has run from the truth rather than towards it.

Kattaka, in turn, urges Mrs Graumann to face her own fears. Mrs Graumann takes Kattaka's advice to heart and soon they are on the road to Masuria, the town that Mrs Graumann was forced to leave in the winter of 1945. Home at last, Mrs Graumann takes the key from around her neck and confronts a past that she has tried to forget.

Impressed by Mrs Graumann's courage, Kattaka realises she wants to tell Alexei the truth. The group return to Gdansk. Daniel and Margarete, worried about Kattaka, arrive as well. As Kattaka speaks to Alexei, Margarete goes into labour and gives birth to a boy. Kattaka has a brother. In fact she now has three brothers because Alexei is married with a family.

A new year begins, a family has been reunited and Kattaka, now a big sister, knows exactly where she belongs.