Drama / Short,
35mm, 15min

Director / Writer:
Steve Hudson

Cast:
Anna Thalbach

Status:
Completed. TV sales handled directly by arielfilms.

Story:
Goodbye tells the story of Maria, who one night leaves her two-year old daughter sleeping at home while she slips out to buy drugs. She’s arrested during the deal, however, and taken into custody for violating parole. Terrified that social services will now fulfil their threat to take her daughter into care, Maria lies to the social worker, telling her someone is with the child. Desperate, she uses her one call a day from within jail to try to reach her friends and family – but she only gets through to answering machines. There’s no way for her to know if her messages have been heard, or if her daughter is still alone

If she confesses to lying, it’s certain her child will be taken away from her forever. Sitting in her cell, all she can see before her is the locked door to her flat.

Is her baby still behind it?

This film is loosely based on various real cases. It makes no attempt to determine blame or guilt, simply to tell a tragic story with dignity and respect.

Prizes:
Goodbye celebrated its World Premiere at the Venice Film Festival, where it won the UIP Prize for the Best European Short Film, Venice 2004.
As a result, Goodbye was nominated for the European Film Academy's Award for Best Short Film, 2004.

At its German premiere at the Interfilm Festival in Berlin, Goodbye won its section of the international competition, taking first prize as the “Best Film Against Violence and Intolerance”.

Goodbye has gone on to win over 20 other prizes worldwide.

Support:
Goodbye has been generously financed by the Filmstiftung North Rhine-Westphalia.