FATHERLAND
It is 1914 and Germany is on the cusp of war. Dirk, a 17 year old British expat, is struggling to win over his nationalistic classmates and neglectful father. And when he betrays his only friend Leo by making his girlfriend pregnant, Dirk feels more isolated than ever. Until he is catapulted forward in time to 1933, the early days of Nazi rule, where he is unexpectedly embraced by the Hitler Youth; a chance at a fresh start. But this newfound acceptance is threatened when he discovers that the daughter he never had the chance to meet has been arrested and that Leo is under Gestapo surveillance. Faced with the consequences of his past actions, Dirk must choose between the allure of approval within the Nazi party or risking everything in a daring prison break to rescue his daughter and heal the friendship he once betrayed. Thrust into a world of underground resistance and political violence, Dirk and Leo embark on a coming-of-age journey of risk, redemption and forgiveness, where they will discover that true acceptance comes not from the approval of others, but from self-acceptance. All whilst becoming fathers.
A rewritten logline and elevator pitch. I’d love your feedback – particularly on its clarity and narrative potential.