production design beatrice schultz

heldin, feature film, 2025, 92 min.

written and directed by petra volpe

cinematographer judith kaufmann

produced by zodiac pictures (zürich)

world premiere at the 75th berlin film festival, section: special gala, 2025

nominated for the european film award

shortlisted for the academy award

at the start of the late shift in a clinic, nurse floria (leonie benesch) embarks on a relentless race against time.

behind every door, new fates and new challenges await. floria moves back and forth between the patient rooms, guided by a pre-determined plan. this is repeatedly interrupted by red lights that light up in the hallway and further shorten the already tight time per patient because floria has to deal with the next emergency first.

at the start of the shift, she masters all tasks confidently and professionally, until the first mistakes creep in.

at some point she can no longer withstand the pressure...

personal note

the character of floria, with her breathlessness, inspired me as a production designer deeply.

The shiny white floor, the result of my exploration of the script and the topic of speed, and the question of how to translate the time pressure under which a nurse’s has to do her work into memorable images. the long corridor leading off the rooms was a key for me from the beginning. The crucial element: the shine, a floor that is smooth and slippery and, in a way dangerous. As if Floria were moving on an ice rink where she could slip at any moment. furthermore, the lighting in the corridor which we installed specifically—should be reflected in the floor, evoking a passing lane...

as if floria were trapped in a computer game where someone simply pressed the button start. and from now on she can’t stop running. the hospital is a place not of this world, more like a ship in space, a place between life and death.

many thanks to

set decoration jana boenisch

propmaster jimena cugat

assistant to prop master/buyer viviane rapp

standby props jessica schmid

driver jiacopo giulini

LED specialist pascal pendl

stage sebastian damovsky

construction peter scherz and his team

scenic painter, color consultant, and material consultant eva weymann