Ninja Motherf*cking Destruction

Germany 2025, Feature Film, 79 min, FSK 12

Director: Lotta Schwerk · Original version with English subtitles

Starring: Emma Suthe, Marie Tragousti, Merle von Mach, Yildiz Tiryakioglu

At 18, best friends Leonie and Marlene are certain that nothing can separate them. But Leonie falls in love with Naomi, devotes herself entirely to her first great love, and drifts further and further away from her best friend. Naomi’s bouts of depression, however, increasingly overwhelm Leonie. When their relationship falls apart, Leonie realizes just how much she has isolated herself. She leaves Berlin, starts an apprenticeship, and tries to make sense of the world around her. But even years later, someone is still missing from her life: Marlene. What defines my identity? And to whom do I have to prove it? Conceived as a long-term cinematic study, “Ninja Motherf*cking Destruction” is a wild and unfiltered portrait of a queer coming-of-age—exuberant emotional chaos included. After eight years of filming—and without any funding or film school backing—director Lotta Schwerk has succeeded in creating, with her feature film debut, an intense and consistently authentic chronicle of youth. The film won the awards for Best Director and Best Acting at the Achtung Berlin Festival and has been met with great enthusiasm at other festivals. On July 21, director Lotta Schwerk will be our guest.

At eighteen, best friends Leonie and Marlene are convinced that nothing can ever tear them apart. But then Leonie falls in love with Naomi; she surrenders herself completely to her first great love, drifting further and further away from her best friend. However, Naomi’s bouts of depression increasingly overwhelm Leonie. When their relationship falls apart, Leonie realizes just how isolated she has become. She leaves Berlin and attempts to bring order to the world around her. Yet, even years later, someone is still missing from her life: Marlene. What defines my identity? And to whom must I prove it? *Ninja Motherf*cking Destruction* is a wild and unfiltered portrait of queer coming of age—complete with all the overwhelming emotional chaos that comes with it. After eight years of filming—and working without any funding or formal film school training—director Lotta Schwerk has delivered an intense, consistently authentic chronicle of youth in her feature film debut. (German with English subtitles) There will be a Q&A with director Lotta Schwerk on July 21.