Fatherland: On the red carpet with Sandra Hüller, Anna Madeley, David Menkin and Paweł Pawlikowski at the London Film Festival 2026

An emotionally arresting piece that blends familial drama with the intense political climate of post-war 1940s Germany, Fatherland features understated performances by Sandra Hüller, Hanns Zischler and August Diehl. The title is a play on the word “fatherland”, in which writer Thomas Mann is caught between the political dealings of West and East Germany, and his relationship with his son and daughter. Co-written and directed by Paweł Pawlikowski, the film astounds with its black-and-white musings on the intersection of art and politics set against the more grounded themes of grief and frayed paternal bonds.

The Upcoming caught up with the director and the stars at the feature’s London Film Festival premiere. First came Anna Madeley, who arrived to a chorus of fans in the pen calling out for her. She plays Betty Knox in Fatherland, a former lover of Erika – Hüller’s role in the movie. The actor described her research as she stepped into the project, including reading works by the real-life author – someone she was unfamiliar with at the time of taking on the role – and exploring Betty and Erika’s history. She also expanded on working with Hüller to capture the chemistry between Betty and Erika in the short time the two spent together on-screen. She talked about the importance of using film and media to tell stories of figures who helped shape culture, not just as public political figures, but also as humans with their own personal struggles.

David Menkin, also part of the cast, stopped by and commented on his role as a CIA agent in the picture. The agency was established three years before the events of the story; his character’s presence is almost a metaphor for the US and its efforts to exercise control outside its borders. He described his reference points for the character, asking Pawlikowski questions to help in his performance, as well as looking back on his repertoire of playing CIA and FBI agents in his previous projects. He dived deep into the themes of Fatherland, specifically the importance of history and learning from past mistakes in hopes of shaping a better future.

Director Pawlikowski, known for his work on Ida and Cold War, stepped onto the carpet sleek in shades and a turtleneck, and discussed balancing the political undercurrent of his work with the familial drama. He particularly highlighted the significance of portraying both in his works, using historical and personal themes to enhance emotional impact. He explained his desire to work with interesting characters that are shaped by the decisions they make. He also talked about his choice to use black and white and how that visual style worked with his own perception of the time period.

Finally, Hüller arrived in a stunning red dress and spoke to The Upcoming about what initially drew her into the piece. She emphasised that Fatherland is not a biopic – rather, Pawlikowski and co-writer Hendrik Handloegten shaped the story around real people, keeping it fictional with realistic situations and human emotions at its core. This allowed her and the rest of the cast to exercise freedom in their approach to acting as these famed literary figures, especially in tackling the father-and-daughter dynamic between Thomas and Erika. She underlined the importance of remembering Erika as an accomplished individual outside her father’s success, highlighting her privilege and the interesting contradictions this posed.

 

Mae Trumata

Fatherland is released on Mubi on 23^rd October 2026.

Read more reviews from our London Film Festival 2026 coverage here.

For further information about the event, visit the London Film Festival website here.

Watch the trailer for Fatherland here: