German Cinema

Alex Heeney / February 15, 2026

Berlinale: Systems of (in)justice in Prosecution and A Family

At the Berlinale, Alex Heeney reviews two films tackling systems of (in)justice: Faraz Shariat’s Prosecution and Mees Peijnenburg’s A Family

img:is([sizes="auto" i], [sizes^="auto," i]){contain-intrinsic-size:3000px 1500px}img.wp-smiley,img.emoji{display:inline !important;border:none !important;box-shadow:none !important;height:1em !important;width:1em !important;margin:0 .07em !important;vertical-align:-.1em !important;background:none !important;padding:0 !important}.wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none}:root{--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--square:1;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--4-3:4/3;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--3-4:3/4;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--3-2:3/2;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--2-3:2/3;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--16-9:16/9;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--9-16:9/16;--wp--preset--color--black:#000;--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray:#abb8c3;--wp--preset--color--white:#fff;--wp--preset--color--pale-pink:#f78da7;--wp--preset--color--vivid-red:#cf2e2e;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange:#ff6900;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber:#fcb900;--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan:#7bdcb5;--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan:#00d084;--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue:#8ed1fc;--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue:#0693e3;--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple:#9b51e0;--wp--preset--color--kb-palette-4:#ebc05f;--wp--preset--color--kb-palette-5:#3c0749;--wp--preset--color--kb-palette-6:#187c58;--wp--preset--color--kb-palette-7:#414141;--wp--preset--color--kb-palette-8:#ae132f;--wp--preset--color--kb-palette-1:#888;--wp--preset--color--kb-palette-2:#fff;--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple:linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(6,147,227,1) 0%,#9b51e0 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan:linear-gradient(135deg,#7adcb4 0%,#00d082 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange:linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(252,185,0,1) 0%,rgba(255,105,0,1) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red:linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(255,105,0,1) 0%,#cf2e2e 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray:linear-gradient(135deg,#eee 0%,#a9b8c3 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum:linear-gradient(135deg,#4aeadc 0%,#9778d1 20%,#cf2aba 40%,#ee2c82 60%,#fb6962 80%,#fef84c 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple:linear-gradient(135deg,#ffceec 0%,#9896f0 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux:linear-gradient(135deg,#fecda5 0%,#fe2d2d 50%,#6b003e 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk:linear-gradient(135deg,#ffcb70 0%,#c751c0 50%,#4158d0 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean:linear-gradient(135deg,#fff5cb 0%,#b6e3d4 50%,#33a7b5 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass:linear-gradient(135deg,#caf880 0%,#71ce7e 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--midnight:linear-gradient(135deg,#020381 0%,#2874fc 100%);--wp--preset--font-size--small:12px;--wp--preset--font-size--medium:20px;--wp--preset--font-size--large:20px;--wp--preset--font-size--x-large:42px;--wp--preset--font-size--normal:18px;--wp--preset--font-size--larger:24px;--wp--preset--spacing--20:.44rem;--wp--preset--spacing--30:.67rem;--wp--preset--spacing--40:1rem;--wp--preset--spacing--50:1.5rem;--wp--preset--spacing--60:2.25rem;--wp--preset--spacing--70:3.38rem;--wp--preset--spacing--80:5.06rem;--wp--preset--shadow--natural:6px 6px 9px rgba(0,0,0,.2);--wp--preset--shadow--deep:12px 12px 50px rgba(0,0,0,.4);--wp--preset--shadow--sharp:6px 6px 0px rgba(0,0,0,.2);--wp--preset--shadow--outlined:6px 6px 0px -3px rgba(255,255,255,1),6px 6px rgba(0,0,0,1);--wp--preset--shadow--crisp:6px 6px 0px rgba(0,0,0,1)}:where(.is-layout-flex){gap:.5em}:where(.is-layout-grid){gap:.5em}body .is-layout-flex{display:flex}.is-layout-flex{flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center}.is-layout-flex > :is(*, div){margin:0}body .is-layout-grid{display:grid}.is-layout-grid > :is(*, div){margin:0}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-flex){gap:2em}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-grid){gap:2em}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-flex){gap:1.25em}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-grid){gap:1.25em}.has-black-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important}.has-white-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important}.has-pale-pink-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important}.has-vivid-red-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important}.has-light-green-cyan-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important}.has-vivid-green-cyan-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important}.has-pale-cyan-blue-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important}.has-vivid-purple-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important}.has-black-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important}.has-white-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important}.has-pale-pink-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important}.has-vivid-red-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important}.has-light-green-cyan-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important}.has-vivid-green-cyan-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important}.has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important}.has-vivid-purple-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important}.has-black-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important}.has-white-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important}.has-pale-pink-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important}.has-vivid-red-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important}.has-light-green-cyan-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important}.has-vivid-green-cyan-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important}.has-pale-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important}.has-vivid-purple-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple) !important}.has-light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan) !important}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange) !important}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red) !important}.has-very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray) !important}.has-cool-to-warm-spectrum-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum) !important}.has-blush-light-purple-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple) !important}.has-blush-bordeaux-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux) !important}.has-luminous-dusk-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk) !important}.has-pale-ocean-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean) !important}.has-electric-grass-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass) !important}.has-midnight-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--midnight) !important}.has-small-font-size{font-size:var(--wp--preset--font-size--small) !important}.has-medium-font-size{font-size:var(--wp--preset--font-size--medium) !important}.has-large-font-size{font-size:var(--wp--preset--font-size--large) !important}.has-x-large-font-size{font-size:var(--wp--preset--font-size--x-large) !important}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-flex){gap:1.25em}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-grid){gap:1.25em}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-flex){gap:2em}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-grid){gap:2em}:root :where(.wp-block-pullquote){font-size:1.5em;line-height:1.6}.woocommerce form .form-row .required{visibility:visible}.gb-block-post-grid .gb-post-grid-items h2 a:hover{color:#0073e5}.site-container .wp-block-button .wp-block-button__link{background-color:#0073e5}.wp-block-button .wp-block-button__link:not(.has-background),.wp-block-button .wp-block-button__link:not(.has-background):focus,.wp-block-button .wp-block-button__link:not(.has-background):hover{color:#fff}.site-container .wp-block-button.is-style-outline .wp-block-button__link{color:#0073e5}.site-container .wp-block-button.is-style-outline .wp-block-button__link:focus,.site-container .wp-block-button.is-style-outline .wp-block-button__link:hover{color:#2396ff}.site-container .has-small-font-size{font-size:12px}.site-container .has-normal-font-size{font-size:18px}.site-container .has-large-font-size{font-size:20px}.site-container .has-larger-font-size{font-size:24px}.site-container .has-theme-primary-color,.site-container .wp-block-button .wp-block-button__link.has-theme-primary-color,.site-container .wp-block-button.is-style-outline .wp-block-button__link.has-theme-primary-color{color:#0073e5}.site-container .has-theme-primary-background-color,.site-container .wp-block-button .wp-block-button__link.has-theme-primary-background-color,.site-container .wp-block-pullquote.is-style-solid-color.has-theme-primary-background-color{background-color:#0073e5}.site-container .has-theme-secondary-color,.site-container .wp-block-button .wp-block-button__link.has-theme-secondary-color,.site-container .wp-block-button.is-style-outline .wp-block-button__link.has-theme-secondary-color{color:#0073e5}.site-container .has-theme-secondary-background-color,.site-container .wp-block-button .wp-block-button__link.has-theme-secondary-background-color,.site-container .wp-block-pullquote.is-style-solid-color.has-theme-secondary-background-color{background-color:#0073e5}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading mark{background:transparent;border-style:solid;border-width:0}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading mark.kt-highlight{color:#f76a0c}.kb-adv-heading-icon{display:inline-flex;justify-content:center;align-items:center}.is-layout-constrained > .kb-advanced-heading-link{display:block}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.has-background{padding:0}.kb-screen-reader-text{position:absolute;width:1px;height:1px;padding:0;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;clip:rect(0,0,0,0)}:root{--global-kb-font-size-sm:clamp(.8rem,.73rem + .217vw,.9rem);--global-kb-font-size-md:clamp(1.1rem,.995rem + .326vw,1.25rem);--global-kb-font-size-lg:clamp(1.75rem,1.576rem + .543vw,2rem);--global-kb-font-size-xl:clamp(2.25rem,1.728rem + 1.63vw,3rem);--global-kb-font-size-xxl:clamp(2.5rem,1.456rem + 3.26vw,4rem);--global-kb-font-size-xxxl:clamp(2.75rem,.489rem + 7.065vw,6rem)}:root{--global-palette1:#3182ce;--global-palette2:#2b6cb0;--global-palette3:#1a202c;--global-palette4:#2d3748;--global-palette5:#4a5568;--global-palette6:#718096;--global-palette7:#edf2f7;--global-palette8:#f7fafc;--global-palette9:#fff}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading42075_31f440-e4,.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading42075_31f440-e4[data-kb-block="kb-adv-heading42075_31f440-e4"]{font-size:var(--global-kb-font-size-md,1.25rem)}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading42075_31f440-e4 mark.kt-highlight,.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading42075_31f440-e4[data-kb-block="kb-adv-heading42075_31f440-e4"] mark.kt-highlight{-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading42075_31f440-e4 img.kb-inline-image,.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading42075_31f440-e4[data-kb-block="kb-adv-heading42075_31f440-e4"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;display:inline-block}:root .has-kb-palette-4-color{color:#ebc05f}:root .has-kb-palette-4-background-color{background-color:#ebc05f}:root .has-kb-palette-5-color{color:#3c0749}:root .has-kb-palette-5-background-color{background-color:#3c0749}:root .has-kb-palette-6-color{color:#187c58}:root .has-kb-palette-6-background-color{background-color:#187c58}:root .has-kb-palette-7-color{color:#414141}:root .has-kb-palette-7-background-color{background-color:#414141}:root .has-kb-palette-8-color{color:#ae132f}:root .has-kb-palette-8-background-color{background-color:#ae132f}:root .has-kb-palette-1-color{color:#888}:root .has-kb-palette-1-background-color{background-color:#888}:root .has-kb-palette-2-color{color:#fff}:root .has-kb-palette-2-background-color{background-color:#fff}.page .entry-title{text-align:center}.page .site-inner{padding-left:2%;padding-right:2%}.genesis-nav-menu > .menu-highlight > a{background-color:#187c58}.single .full-width-content .content{max-width:800px}.single .entry-content{max-width:740px}.single .entry-title{max-width:800px;margin-right:auto;margin-left:auto}.single .entry-meta{max-width:800px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto}.page .full-width-content .content{max-width:880px}.page .entry-title{text-align:center}.page .entry-content,.single .entry-content{margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto}.breadcrumb{border-bottom:1px solid #eee;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;max-width:800px}img.entry-image{max-width:60%}.archive .site-inner{max-width:1000px;margin:auto}.archive-description,.author-box{border-bottom:1px solid #eee;margin-bottom:5%;padding-bottom:5%;text-align:center}.entry,.page.page-template-page_blog .entry{border-bottom:1px solid #eee;margin-bottom:4%;padding-bottom:4%}.archive-description,.author-box{border-bottom:1px solid #eee;margin-bottom:5%;padding-bottom:5%;text-align:center}.genesis-nav-menu a{color:#3c0749;font-size:20px}h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6{color:#232525;font-family:"Poppins",sans-serif;font-weight:700;line-height:1.2;margin:0 0 20px}.h1{font-size:36px;font-size:3.6rem;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:-3px;margin-top:20px}.archive-description,.author-box{border-bottom:1px solid #eee;margin-bottom:10%;padding-bottom:10%;text-align:center}#title a{color:#3c0749}.site-title{font-family:"Poppins",sans-serif;font-size:22px;font-size:2.2rem}.site-title a,.site-title a:hover,.site-title a:focus{border-bottom-width:0;color:#232525}.site-title a,.site-title a:hover,.site-title a:focus{border-bottom-width:0;color:#3c0749}.archive-title{font-size:30px;font-size:3rem;letter-spacing:-1px;margin-bottom:10px;margin-top:10px}.search .archive-title{margin-bottom:0}.page .entry-title,.single .entry-title{font-size:36px;font-size:3.6rem;letter-spacing:-3px}.content .entry-title a:focus,.content .entry-title a:hover{color:#e85555}.single .entry-content p.intro{color:#232525;display:block;font-size:20px;font-style:italic}.single .entry-content p.intro:after{border-bottom:1px solid #232525;content:"";display:block;margin-bottom:40px;padding-bottom:40px;width:10%}.dropcap{color:#3c0749;float:left;font-family:"Poppins",sans-serif;font-size:75px;line-height:60px;padding-top:4px;padding-right:8px;padding-left:3px}p.entry-meta{font-family:"Poppins",sans-serif;font-size:14px;letter-spacing:1px;margin-bottom:10px;text-transform:uppercase}.page .entry-header,.single .entry-header{margin:0 auto 5%}.page.page-template-page_blog .entry-header{max-width:none}.pagination{clear:both;font-family:"Poppins",sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-size:1.2rem;letter-spacing:.5px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;margin-top:5%}.search-form{display:-webkit-box;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex}.woocommerce-store-notice,p.demo_store{background-color:#6c4263}#payment .place-order .button{display:inline}div.coupon:not(.under-proceed){display:none !important}button.single_add_to_cart_button:before{display:inline-block;font-family:FontAwesome;float:left;content:"";font-weight:300;margin-right:1em}.woocommerce-cart .wc-proceed-to-checkout a.checkout-button{background:#187c58}.woocommerce div.product form.cart .button{background:#187c58}.woocommerce #payment #place_order,.woocommerce-page #payment #place_order{background:#187c58}.item-thumbnail{display:inline;padding-right:20px}.woocommerce-page div.product div.summary{width:48%}.kadence-blocks-product-carousel-init>ul.products .button{display:none}.white-text{}.search-form-input{padding:20px;font-size:25px;border-color:#3c0749;border-width:7px;background-color:#e6dfdf}.hide-this{display:none}.introseo{display:none}.after-entry{display:none}.half-width{max-width:400px}2 3 4 .js nav{display:none}@media only screen and (min-width: 1024px){.js nav{display:block}}.page .entry-title{padding-top:100px}body{font-size:22px}

Berlinale: Systems of (in)justice in Prosecution and A Family

Support Seventh Row

Connect with Us

Browse

Join our newsletter

Featured Ebooks on Directors