HAUS 4
Germany 2026 — Directed by: Philipp Schaeffer — 80 min — Spoken language: German — Subtitles: English — Production Company: streetsfilm GmbH — Producers: Paul Hartmann, Franzis Unger
HOUSE 4 documents a year in the life of juvenile inmates at Berlin´s youth prison. With exceptional access and the trust of both inmates and staff, the film follows its protagonists as they undergo mandatory therapy, designed to prepare them for a life outside prison walls.
Therapist Mrs. Missala adresses the inmates firmly but not without warmth. Their conversations explore the important aspects in their lives, ranging from the philosophical to the mundane: remorse and ruthlessness, life on the streets of Berlin, one‘s relationship to one‘s family, the difference between play and crime - and the day‘s math homework. Between therapy sessions, the film moves freely through this walled-off world. In its minimalist formal approach it avoids any sensationalism, painting a nuanced picture of prison as a place of contradictions.
Is genuine introspection possible when it is involuntary? Some play their cards close to their chest. Others talk freely, and we catch a glimpse of a vulnerable young person. Do inmates change here, or do they simply learn to play the system? House 4 holds up a mirror to the youth prison systems of Western social welfare states.
Director: Philipp Schaeffer. Camera: Leon Hörtrich. Sound: Kilian Armando Friedrich, Philipp Schaeffer. Editing: Fred Hellmann, Jonathan Rösch, Rachel Oker. Music: Louis Edlinger. Production: streetsfilm GmbH. Producers: Paul Hartmann, Franzis Unger.
Festivals & Awards
- Slamdance Film Festival 2026 – Special Mention
- DOK.fest München 2026
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