Is this a wide release?

No, it is screening as part of the Hong Kong Lesbian & Gay Film Festival 2026. Check the festival programme for venues and session times.

Trial of Hein (HKLGFF 2026)

Name: Trial of Hein (HKLGFF 2026)
Genre: Drama
Released: 2026-09-20
Duration: 122 min
Cast: Paul Boche, Stephanie Amarell, Philip Froissant, Emilia Schüle, Jeanette Hain

故鄉異客 (HKLGFF 2026)

Released: 20 Sep 2026
Runtime: 122 min
Original title: Der Heimatlose
Language: de

Drama

The verdict

There are not yet enough audience votes to give this a reliable score. It is not currently playing in Hong Kong cinemas. 122 minutes.

What it is about

After 14 years away, Hein returns to his home village on a remote island, only to discover that the close-knit community no longer recognises him. Suspecting him to be an impostor, they demand a trial to determine his true identity.

What to expect

Kai Stänicke's drama runs 122 minutes and is built around a single, contained idea: a man returns to his island village after 14 years and the community puts him on trial because they no longer believe he is who he claims to be. The movie stays close to that premise, working through the mechanics of the hearing and the small-town dynamics that fuel it. Paul Boche carries the central role with a restraint that keeps the question of identity genuinely open for much of the runtime. The pace is unhurried and the tone is muted — this is a festival piece that asks for concentration rather than offering release. It screens in German with English and Chinese subtitles as part of HKLGFF 2026, so it will not appear on regular cinema schedules; check the festival programme for venues and session times.

Cast

Paul Boche Hein
Stephanie Amarell Heide
Philip Froissant Friedemann
Emilia Schüle Greta
Jeanette Hain Jorinde
Zhenja Isaak Bernhard
Aaron Hilmer Volker
Andreas Nickl Fiete
Maju Margrit Sartorius Annegret
Philip Günsch
Emil Hauss Hein (Teenager)
Frederick Lepthien Hein (10 years old)
Emilia Packard Greta (Teenager)
Irene Kleinschmidt Mechthild
Lena Maria Eikenbusch Mechthild 2

Crew

Director Kai Stänicke
Writer Kai Stänicke
Original Music Composer Damian Scholl
Director of Photography Florian Mag
Editor Susanne Ocklitz
Producer Andrea Schütte
Producer Dirk Decker
Producer Dario Suter

Common questions

How long is the movie?: 122 minutes.
What language is it in, and are there subtitles?: German, with English and Chinese subtitles.
Is this a wide release?: No, it is screening as part of the Hong Kong Lesbian & Gay Film Festival 2026. Check the festival programme for venues and session times.