Merle follows the invitation of her lover to spend the summer in the South of France. She is surprised to find only his children in the summer house. Did she expect more than she should have? An ambiguous summer full of silent desire.

For her rst television lm – a remake of Fassbind- er’s Die bi eren Tränen der Petra von Kant – direc- tor Vera wants the perfect cast. But the rst day of shoo ng is fast approaching and the numerous cas ng sessions have yet to nd a suitable actress to play the leading role. Although the producer and crew are ge ng ever more exasperated with Vera, Gerwin is happy about the extra work, as he earns his money as an audi on reader, delivering the lines of dialogue to the starry candidates at the various cas ngs. When the male lead suddenly has to back out, Gerwin thinks that this might just be his chance. Director Nicolas Wackerbarth captures the complex essence of Fassbinder’s lm and simultaneously cre- ates a profound work of his own. Cas ng takes an un inching look at the murky depths of human rela- onships driven by power, passion and despera on. Yet Wackerbarth also brings bi er truths to light about power rela ons and dependencies in the Ger- man television industry almost in passing. Cas ng is both intelligent and entertaining, marked by ex- ci ng turning points, humour and the breathtaking ac ng performances by a truly virtuoso ensemble.