Woodland

After witnessing a deadly public shooting that rocked Vienna in 2020, the PTSD-suffering Marian retreats to the village of her youth, far into the desolate Austrian woods, to heal her broken soul. Based on Doris Knecht’s harrowing book as well as snippets from her own life.In the aftermath of a harrowing terrorist attack, Marian finds her future overwhelming and her past depressing. Once a fearless, globe-trotting journalist, she can’t even bring herself to enter a grocery store. With no plan in mind, Marian flees Vienna for her late grandparents’ dilapidated farmhouse in the vast Austrian countryside. All she knows is she now prefers the forest's solitude, with its dense moss and damp earth. But after decades of estrangement from her hometown, Marian is forced to confront what—and who—she left behind all those years ago. This contemplative and character-driven homecoming story combines writer-director Elisabeth Scharang’s experience as a survivor of the 2020 Vienna attack with Doris Knecht’s novel of the same name. Accentuated by enchanting landscapes and a hauntingly beautiful score, WOODLAND is a raw yet understated exploration of healing and self-reflection in the wake of past traumas. —D.O.Content Warning: This film contains material that may be difficult for some viewers. Viewer discretion is advised.