The State I Am In
A fugitive couple's rebellious teenage daughter tests the fragile security of their underground family life when romance draws her toward the outside world.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- austere
- melancholic
- tense
- quiet evening
- arthouse film night
What critics said
Critics generally praised the film's subtle, realistic suspense and disciplined depiction of an isolated fugitive family, though some found its emotionally unlikable characters difficult to spend time with.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Jeanne's adolescence unfolds under the constant threat created by Clara and Hans's fifteen years in hiding.
Clara and Hans prioritize clandestine security while Jeanne begins asserting an identity separate from them.
The family's precarious underground existence makes Jeanne's romance and everyday contact with outsiders threatening.
The film's no-nonsense approach observes an off-kilter family life without melodramatic embellishment.
Films like The State I Am In, and why
Barbara
shared themes of political fugitivity, family pressure, social isolation, and restrained suspense
Phoenix
shared austere European drama, concealed identity, and emotionally tense parent child relationships
The Quiet Girl
shared coming of age perspective, family alienation, and quiet psychological tension
Movie Details
- Director
- Christian Petzold
- Release Date
- 2001-02-01
- Runtime
- 106 min
- Rating
- 6.8 / 10 (73)
Cast
- Julia Hummer
- Barbara Auer
- Richy Müller
- Bilge Bingul
- Rogério Jacques
- Maria João
- Vasco Machado
- Noberto Paula
- Bernd Tauber
- Katharina Schüttler
Common questions
- What is The State I Am In about?
- A fugitive couple's rebellious teenage daughter tests the fragile security of their underground family life when romance draws her toward the outside world.
- What is The State I Am In like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The State I Am In as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The State I Am In violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The State I Am In.
- What did critics think of The State I Am In?
- Critics generally praised the film's subtle, realistic suspense and disciplined depiction of an isolated fugitive family, though some found its emotionally unlikable characters difficult to spend time with.
- Which films are like The State I Am In?
- Films with a similar feel include Barbara, Phoenix, and The Quiet Girl.
- How long is The State I Am In?
- The State I Am In runs 106 minutes.
