remember me

In his debut film, doctor and filmmaker Lukas Olszewski tells the fictionalized story of his own family, unknowingly fighting against the early symptoms of a still little-known illness. Lukas himself plays the aspiring doctor Max.

Story

It’s love at first sight when would-be doctor Max meets the stunning singer Elina. But as they start a family together, Elina begins to act increasingly strange, seemingly without reason. The more desperately Max tries to save their relationship, the quicker the family threatens to fall apart. Once he finally understands the full extent of their crisis, there’s no turning back.

Based on a true story

A few words from the director:

It’s April 2020, and as the corona pandemic hits the world, I am unexpectedly faced with the most painful task of my life: suddenly I have to explain to my five-year-old daughter that her mother, only 36 years old, has a condition called frontotemporal dementia. That there is no cure, and she herself, a talented musician, apparently doesn't even suspect something could be wrong with her.

For years I had been searching for an explanation for my fiancé’s gradual change in personality, our communication problems, the increasing loss of her empathy and my patience – and ultimately our failure as a couple and family. And now I get a devastating answer: frontotemporal dementia – can this be true? I read everything I can find about this FTD: Insidiously, it doesn‘t reveal itself as an illness for years, almost imperceptibly destroying the bonds that hold us together, such as empathy, communication and understanding for others. FTD quietly creeps into the lives of younger people and their families, people in the prime of their lives. It takes four years on average to get the correct diagnosis. And no, there really is no cure.

“A cruel disease that many of us have never heard of” is how Bruce Willis’ family aptly describes this condition after his tragic FTD diagnosis.

For far too long I remain alone with this hopeless fate, with the responsibility of being a single father, the many new grueling questions and all the overwhelming experiences we face on our odyssey with FTD.

Two years after the harrowing diagnosis, I decide to tell our story, to finally help other people understand our world.

remember me is the result of this personal healing process and the core of the remember project, with which I want to build awareness, support, connection and hope for people with FTD.

A woman in a hooded jacket at a green-lit gas station at night. She looks confused.

A young woman in a summer dress walks down a beach dune in the evening light, smiling.

A man and a woman on a beach look deeply into each other's eyes.

A close-up of a young and stunning woman singing on stage.

A self-confidently smiling young woman on a stage, a dark-haired young musician in the background.

Zwei junge Verliebte liegen auf einem Bett, die Arme ineinander verschlungen, und küssen sich.

A young couple are lying in bed, the man massaging the pregnant woman's back.

A young couple dances closely together in the morning light in a kitchen, the woman holds a baby in her arms with a smile, the man puts his arm around his wife and child.

A young couple is sitting on a couch in a room with little light, he is trying to get close to her, she is staring at her mobile phone.

A young man sits on a landing smoking, an older man stands in front of him, slightly bent over and gesticulating.

A young couple and a middle-aged woman are sitting in what looks like a therapy room, the older lady in front of the couple, looking at them.

In a dark cellar, a few rays of sunlight falling through a window, a young man sits with his head down, holding a piece of clothing in his hands.

In an unnatural euphoria, a young woman with red hair runs her hand over a colorful mosaic on the wall.

A little girl smiles curiously as she looks through the opening of a round green scarf that a man is holding in front of her face.

A little girl is standing on a beach, posing playfully and smiling, her hair blowing in the wind.

Download press kit

Details

Genre: Drama, family

Country/Year: Germany, 2023

Written and Directed by: Lukas Olszewski

Main Cast: Solgerd Isalv, Lukas Olszewski

Diector of Photography: Micky Graeter

Film Editor: Sebastian Wild

Original Score: Jens Heuler

Trailer: Bernadette Marquardt

Languages: German, English, Schwedish

Subtitles: German, English, more on request

Duration: 40 min.

Technical Details: Colour, Cinemascope, 5.1 surround sound

Produced by: Lukas Olszewski

Cast & Crew

Featuring

Elina: Solgerd Isalv

Max: Lukas Olszewski

Sophia: Noella Eckstein, Leif & Bela Walter

Lost Child: Valentin Dymke

Pianist: Amine Mesnaoui

Old Confused Lady: Helga Seebacher

Security Guard: Mario Roh

Nurse: Ramona Olasz

Emergency Patient: Erik Köhler

Woman With Red Hair: Katharina Eichner

Aggressive Driver: Thomas Zerck

Homeless Man: Martin Höner

Colleague: Domenik Jonas Lücke

Couples Therapist: Sylvia Mayer

Till Girl: Elena Schwarz

Swedish Nurse: Elna Lindgens

Voices

Swedish Mum: Ylva Gruen

Pianist: Lars Krone

Psychotherapist: Alexis Krüger

Neurologist: Katja Preuß

Father: Rickard Claeson

Crew

AD & Production: Ireen Bernhard

Gaffer: Quirin Jasper Wolff

Electricians: Elias Deseler, Lorenz Bühler

Set Decorator: Felix Zocher

Costume Designer

Asst. H&M: Nele Sternberg

Hair & Make-up Designer

Asst. Wardrobe: Katharina Eichner

First Asst. Camera: Daniel Müller

Second Asst. Camera: Sven Müller

Steadicam Operator: Christoph Werner

Colorist: Thomas Herget

Sound Recordists: J.B., Alex Acevedo

Sound Design: Musica Culpable C.A.

Sound Design & Mix: Sebastian Sánchez

Casting Kids: Josephine Mothes, Young Performers Agency

Unit Managers: Johannes Schied, Ingmar Heide

Script Supervisor: Dai Iguchi

Production Assistants: Hanna Papperitz, Lissy Jacobs, Hannah Schlecht

Set Runner: Mohammed Sallach, Simon Rakel, Kent Vorisek, Spikes Krämer

Dummies: Christiane Rüdebusch, TRICKY MAC FX

Set Photographer: Jonas Rinne

Graphic Designer: Nick Teplov

Live recordings: Solgerd Isalv, Amine Mesnaoui, Michael Veit, Neil Valenta, Christoph Kirschfink

Special Thanks

Markus Bauermeister, Leni Hinterthür, Collin Beutel, Finlay Berge, Nadja Eden, Fynn Drechsler, David & Lisa Walter, Finn Mittnacht, Annett Schönecke, Ylva Gruen, Rodney Pearlman, Michael Ryan, Prof. Saur, Prof. Otto, Familie Walter, Familie Dymke, Familie Walter, Familie Eckstein, GOFUNDME Supporters, Alex Bergdolt, Bob Heinemann, Daisy Rotzoll, Jörg Hesse, Christian Schulz, Sebastian Andreß, Arthur Letizky, Sophie Wruck, Louisa Vianden, Alexis Krüger, Johannes Olszewski, Kino Flo Lighting Systems, Watch Lola GmbH, Mayer Bros. GmbH, Lernklinik Leipzig, Oil Tankstelle Beuna, Altes Postamt Pegau, Ludwig Camera Rental, Sparks Filmtechnik, Atlas Lens Co, Philippuskirche Leipzig, Ostseebad Prerow, Stadt Halle, Uniklinik Halle

Contact

For general inquiries or bookings for screenings and events, please contact me via the contact form below.