The Birthday Gift

What it’s about

Marlene Frischmann, a single mother, organizes her son Theo's birthday party at her brother's elegant country villa. She has thought of everything: decorations, a gluten-free cake, a piñata, even hired animals. But the celebration quickly derails. A toy gun given as a gift sparks heated arguments about parenting, family roles, and principles, while the adults' own behavior—including her brother, her father, and a colleague—adds to the turmoil. The carefully arranged event descends into a chaotic scramble.

What hooks you

Directed by Vanessa Jopp, the film features Jeanne Goursaud as Marlene, alongside Sogol Faghani, Edin Hasanović, and Heiner Lauterbach. The ensemble cast brings to life a comedy where social tensions and clashing worldviews turn a festive occasion into a battlefield of opinions.

Who it’s for

It is a good pick for those who enjoy sharp social satire and family dynamics gone awry, where a single spark can ignite a powder keg of disagreements and comic mayhem.