Agnieszka Holland to helm Marlene Dietrich biopic ‘Berlinweh'
Holland’s next feature will be a Marlene Dietrich biopic, with a non-linear structure spanning pivotal moments in the icon’s life
Agnieszka Holland, Polish filmmaker, is set to direct a new biographical feature on Marlene Dietrich titled Berlinweh – Yearning for a Home, with world sales handled by Films Boutique.
The project brings together a European production team led by X Filme Creative Pool, Marlene Film Production and British-Irish producer Mike Downey, marking another collaboration with Holland following Franz, as per Variety.
Dietrich Story Spans Four Decades and Cities
The film is based on a screenplay by Ingo Rasper and takes an unconventional narrative approach, following Dietrich across four pivotal days in four different decades.
Her life will be explored through key moments set in Paris in 1937, Bergen-Belsen in 1945, Tel Aviv in 1960 and Paris again in 1983, highlighting shifting political and cultural contexts rather than a linear biography.
Holland Explores Contradictions of an Icon
Holland said she was drawn to Dietrich as a complex figure whose life continues to raise urgent questions about identity, morality and artistic responsibility.
She described Dietrich as a “tangle of contradictions,” noting her evolution from glamour icon to war-era performer and political symbol, as well as her divided reception in Germany due to her anti-fascist stance.
The director added that the film will focus on defining moments rather than a chronological life story, aiming to reflect what she called the “most universal” aspects of Dietrich’s fate as a woman, artist and citizen.
Strong European Production Team Behind Project
The film is produced by X Filme Creative Pool’s Uwe Schott and Josephine Blume, alongside Šárka Cimbalová for Marlene Film Production and Mike Downey, with co-production from Parallel45 in France.
Producers said Holland’s international filmmaking background aligns closely with Dietrich’s own cross-border identity and themes of displacement, independence and political conviction.
They also highlighted the project’s relevance in today’s cultural climate, describing it as a European cinema story rooted in artistic courage and moral complexity.