The Birthday Gift

2026 1h 26m DE

🤯

8.7

MASTERPIECE

★8.7TMDB · 3

Comedy

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Single mother Marlene Frischmann organizes a birthday party for her son Theo at her brother's chic country villa, which quickly spirals into family drama, world-view quarrels, and chaos.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Cast

Jeanne Goursaud
Marlene Frischmann
Edin Hasanović
Timo
Heiner Lauterbach
Hans
Levin Wopp
Theo Frischmann
Sogol Faghani
Sofia
Enzo Brumm
Berit Künnecke
Amal Keller
Jenny

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Vanessa Jopp
Writers: Ben Brooks
Languages: German
Countries: Germany

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

86 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released this year — you're seeing it while it's still in the cultural conversation.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Vanessa Jopp, shot by Bernhard Jasper. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Loy Wesselburg. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Brigitta Tauchner shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Jeanne Goursaud and Edin Hasanović and Heiner Lauterbach carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt38999812 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Vanessa Jopp directs. Bernhard Jasper behind the camera. Loy Wesselburg scores. Brigitta Tauchner cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Germany. Dialogue in German.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

186 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
2Released this year — you're seeing it while it's still in the cultural conversation.
3Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
4Directed by Vanessa Jopp, shot by Bernhard Jasper. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Loy Wesselburg. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Brigitta Tauchner shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Jeanne Goursaud and Edin Hasanović and Heiner Lauterbach carry the top of the cast.
8IMDB entry: tt38999812 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Only 3 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.