Mascha Schilinski's 'El sonido de la caída' Wins Jury Prize at Cannes

German director Mascha Schilinski's second feature film, 'El sonido de la caída' (The Sound of the Fall), won the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival. The film is a sensory exploration without a traditional narrative structure, blending past and present. It is set in a single German family house inhabited by four generations of young people over the 20th century, focusing on traumas that are inherited and primarily affect women. The title refers to a violent fall suffered by a boy to avoid conscription, which sets off a chain of non-physical falls. Schilinski avoids explicit script cues, allowing viewers to connect characters and their sorrows. The cinematography by Fabian Gamper uses subjective, grainy, and unfocused shots to create mystery. The film references photographer Francesca Woodman, whose ghostly self-portraits inspired Schilinski. The movie also reflects on the origins of cinema in still images and ghostly presences. The European context of wars and divisions, especially the border between East and West Germany, underpins the narrative. The film is set for theatrical release on April 24, 2026.