“What Marielle knows”, interview with director Frédéric Hambalek

February 21, 2025

Hambalek, director of What Marielle Knows on the question behind his film: “What would parents do if they were monitored by their kids?”.

“What Marielle knows”, interview with director Frédéric Hambalek Chiara Nicoletti

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With his second feature film, “What Marielle Knows“, German director Frédéric Hambalek is in competition at the 75th Berlinale.

Starring Julia Jentsch and Felix Kramer, the film develops the possible answer to a question: “What would parents do if they were monitored by their kids?” while coming up with the idea of a girl suddenly listening to all her parents thoughts.

It all came to Hambalek when he first discovered the existence of baby monitors with a camera that could watch their every move.

“What Marielle Knows” is a film about privacy and its importance especially in this particular moment when we all seem to give it up more and more every day.

Plot

Julia and Tobias seem to be the perfect couple. Yet behind the facade and designer kitchen, trouble is brewing. Their fragile balance is shattered when their daughter Marielle suddenly develops telepathic abilities, giving her the power to see and hear everything her parents do, day and night. The couple soon realizes the lies they’ve been telling each other will not get past Marielle anymore. As Julia and Tobias’ most uncomfortable secrets are exposed, they engage in a manipulative game, leading to increasingly awkward, absurd situations nand unleashing unexpected consequences.

Written by: Chiara Nicoletti

Felix Kramer Julia Jentsch