A Woman in Berlin 2009

In the final days of World War II, a diverse group of women, children, and elderly men find themselves struggling for survival in the ruins of Berlin, having been forced out of their once stable middle-class lives.

As the Soviet Red Army marches in, they dismantle the last remaining German defenses. With this occupation comes tragedy—a terrifying wave of violence where soldiers assault women of all ages. Among the victims is a German journalist, portrayed by Nina Hoss, who, after enduring multiple atrocities, approaches the battalion’s commanding officer for help, seeking an alliance and some form of protection.

Initially, the officer, Andrei Rybkin, played by Yevgeny Sidikhin, dismisses her plea. Yet as he gets to know her, the allure of her beauty and strength gradually pulls him in. She embodies a calm resilience, having become part of a makeshift community formed among the survivors in her apartment building.

Through their evolving relationship, Rybkin offers her and her neighbors not just protection, but also sustenance and camaraderie, as they navigate the harrowing reality around them. Many women resort to selective liaisons with certain officers or soldiers, hoping to shield themselves from the widespread violence. However, Rybkin’s growing closeness to them raises suspicions amongst his peers, resulting in his eventual reassignment.

In a world unraveling around them, the interplay of survival, desperation, and fleeting connections forms the core of their harrowing tale.