Die Haushaltshilfe

The Housemaid

Martina, a young woman from Slovakia, is employed through an agency to work for a couple as domestic help. Although she is homesick, she is still optimistic and highly motivated as she takes up her new job. She eagerly begins learning German and kindly cares for the bed-ridden Max. Different expectations, however, soon make it clear that, unlike what friends and family imagine, Martina has certainly not found a dream job. Anna Hoffmann comes astonishingly close to her protagonist in this depressing portrait and observes her carrying out everyday tasks that are marked by all kinds of subtle differences. (Lina Dinkla)

Director's Biography

ANNA HOFFMANN, geb. in Kasachstan. 1990 Umsiedlung nach Deutschland. Ab 2001 Studium der Film- und Theaterwissenschaften an der FU Berlin. Regiestudium an der Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg. 2008 kasachischer Filmpreis für Welche Richtung geht’s nach Hause?. Die Haushaltshilfe, Hoffmanns Diplomfilm, wurde bei der Berlinale 2010, Perspektive Deutsches Kino, gezeigt.

Filme (Auswahl): Wuster Erinnerungen (1999, KF/Dok), Bombay Chicken (2003, KF), Steps (2004, KF), Welche Richtung geht’s nach Hause? (2006, Dok), Die Haushaltshilfe (2010, Dok)