In 2021, three filmmakers created a documentary called Futura, where young Italians shared their thoughts about life and the future. Christina Friedrich’s film, The Night Is Dark And Colder Than The Day, premiered at the 2025 Rotterdam International Film Festival and takes a similar approach but explores the world of young German children. The tone is different, focusing on their fears, dreams, and imagination, with a touch of folklore that feels very relevant today.
This film heavily features the children’s voices. Many of them had already appeared in Friedrich’s previous project, Zone. They expressed a strong desire to share their own stories. While it’s hard to tell what’s real and what’s imagined, the ideas belong to the children. This gives the film a unique, strange quality. It doesn’t try to include adult viewpoints, which highlights how children see the world differently. Their experiences and concerns reflect a generational shift shaped by the times they live in.
We start in a school hall where each child takes a turn to share their fears. Some fears, like heights and darkness, are common, but sharing them takes courage, especially when friends can be harsh. There’s a special bond among these kids. The pandemic has left a mark on them; several express fears about losing loved ones. Others worry about bigger issues like homelessness and war. One child speaks of self-harm during sleep paralysis, while another fears losing touch with sanity. Hearing such honesty from children can be surprising and poignant.
One girl frequently dreams of falling into a dark hole. Soon, the children find themselves navigating a space that resembles her dream. They listen to the Grimm fairy tale The Youth Who Went Forth To Find Out What Fear Was, which sets the scene for them to explore their dreams in action. Some children want to turn into animals, and they dress up and dance in the countryside, channeling their creativity. One girl longs to be a shapeshifter; a boy wishes for Spider-Man powers, while another envisions living in the time of dinosaurs and creates a ritual mask for his character.
The children invent their own rituals, drawing from their rich imaginations. A girl’s dance alone by a tree, reaching for the sky, feels more genuine than many adult concerns. Their connection to nature seems rooted in their upbringing and the larger issues of their generation.
There’s talk of the Teumesse fox, once believed to prey on children. Here, the fox is admired for being elusive. A wild energy runs through their activities, and the adult world seems distant, fading away. Together, the children are crafting a new reality based on their experiences and fears.
“I think that the world will soon change,” one child reflects.
Reviewed on: 04 Feb 2025
