"The Reunion"

A German PoW believes that if his family are united by an annual reunion, there will be no more wars. 

For: Independent theatrical release

Running Time: 100 mins.

The Story: Based on a true story, this film chronicles the life of a WW2 German PoW, Hugo Mauer, who, from his new home in Cornwall during the post war years sets out to establish a regular family reunion between his children and their German cousins in the belief that the connections they make will prevent further wars.

1963. A successful flower grower, Hugo, his wife Rene and young family leave their Cornish farm in the capable hands of an old friend, Wally, to attend the first family reunion in Bavaria. The journey in a Morris Minor van is very long and takes several days. At a farm on the Dutch/German border Hugo is reminded of his actions as a young soldier in 1944. The more he remembers the more the ghosts of his earlier life haunt him. His young daughter, Hanne, too young to know of her father’s experiences, creates her own relationship with her father’s homeland. In 1963, Germany is being divided by the building of the Wall and together with her German cousins she is witness to its construction. Only later in her life, after her father and the wall are gone does she realise just how traumatic those Cold War years actually were.