Wilma fights for her happiness: tragicomedy celebrates its premiere in Mülheim!

Wilma fights for her happiness: tragicomedy celebrates its premiere in Mülheim!

A film that becomes an entertaining tragicomedy in the name of female strength. “Wilma wants more” will premiere in Mülheim on August 11, 2025 and has already raised great expectations. The renowned actress Fritzi Haberlandt plays the title role of Wilma, who undergoes a remarkable development over the course of the film.

The story takes place in the Lusatian lignite mining area in the late 1990s. Wilma, a woman of many talents and certifications, faces severe disappointment when she loses her husband, who is dating another woman. This turn of events forces her to turn her life around and move to Vienna, where she finds a new home in a left-wing bohemian shared apartment in the suburbs. There she begins to discover her craft as a repair specialist and as a teacher in a dance school. Between waltzing and electrical installations, Wilma not only finds her professional path back, but also her love for herself and others.

A look behind the scenes

Director and screenwriter Maren-Kea Freese lovingly staged the film. Filming took place from October 5th to November 10th, 2023 at various locations in Brandenburg, Saxony and Vienna. Produced by Heino Deckert, Tina Börner and Katharina Bergfeld, the film was made possible with the support of several film funding institutions, including the German Film Fund and the Central German Media Fund. Particularly noteworthy is the nomination for the SCORE Bernhard Wicki Prize at the Emden-Norderney International Film Festival and the Audience Award at the Neiße Film Festival 2025.

“Wilma wants more” also presents an interesting gender perspective. The current film funding law ensures gender-equal composition of the FFA's funding committees, which means that the industry not only pays attention to gender distribution, but also promotes family-friendly conditions. This is reflected in the latest guidelines that allow costs for child care on set to be included in the financing. A step that ensures a more open and inclusive film culture.

Film reviews and outlook

The film has already caused a stir before its theatrical release on July 31, 2025. The initial response to the film is mixed: While Peter Gutting gives it 7 out of 10 points, Gaby Sikorski's rating is 2.5 out of 5 stars. Nevertheless, positive mentions of the characters and the central theme permeate the discourse surrounding the film. The mixture of sensitivity and humor promises to captivate viewers and make them think.

Let's be excited to see how Wilma's journey arrives in Mülheim. On August 11th there will be the first opportunity to experience the moving and inspiring life of this remarkable woman on the big screen. “Wilma Wants More” is not only a film about loss and new beginnings, but also about the challenges and opportunities that life has in store for women in the modern world.

Further information can be found here: Mülheim an der Ruhr, Wikipedia and FFA.