Is Where Hands Touch based on a true story? Ending Explained
by Aishwarya R
Updated Apr 08, 2023
Where Hands Touch
Where Hands Touch is a 2018 romantic war drama film directed and written by British filmmaker Amma Asante. The film was produced by Charlie Hanson and stars Amandla Stenberg as Leyna, the mixed-race protagonist, and George MacKay as Lutz, a young German boy who falls in love with her. Other notable cast members include Abbie Cornish, Christopher Eccleston, and Tom Goodman-Hill.
The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2018 and was released in the United Kingdom in September of the same year. It was later released in the United States in September 2019. The film received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising its performances and themes while others criticized its historical accuracy and portrayal of the Holocaust.
Director Amma Asante is known for her work on other films such as A Way of Life and Belle. She has won several awards for her filmmaking, including the BAFTA Award for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer for her work on A Way of Life. Producer Charlie Hanson has produced other notable films such as Fish Tank and The History Boys.
Amandla Stenberg, who plays Leyna, is an American actress known for her roles in films such as The Hate U Give and The Hunger Games. George MacKay, who plays Lutz, is a British actor known for his work on films such as 1917 and Captain Fantastic. Abbie Cornish, Christopher Eccleston, and Tom Goodman-Hill are also accomplished actors with extensive film and television credits.
Where Hands Touch explores themes of identity, racism, and love during a tumultuous time in history. While the film is not based on a specific true story, it is grounded in historical research and draws upon the experiences of Black Germans during the Holocaust to create a fictionalized narrative that sheds light on a lesser-known aspect of the Holocaust.
Is Where Hands Touch based on a True Story?
Yes, the 2019 romantic drama film "Where Hands Touch" is loosely based on true events. The film is set in Nazi Germany and follows the story of a biracial teenage girl named Leyna, who falls in love with a young German boy named Lutz. The film is inspired by the experiences of black Germans and their struggle for acceptance in Nazi Germany.
While the film is not a direct retelling of a specific true story, it draws upon historical research and real-life experiences to create a fictionalized narrative that reflects the broader experiences of black Germans during the Nazi era. The film's director, Amma Asante, has spoken about the extensive research she conducted while making the film, which included speaking to descendants of black Germans and consulting historical archives.
Where Hands Touch is a Holocaust-era film that is not based on a true story, but is grounded in historical facts to tell a realistic tale. Unlike many other films set during that time period, it does not focus on the persecution of Jews under Nazi rule. Instead, the movie centers around the story of Leyna, a 16-year-old girl of mixed German and African descent who is referred to as a "Rhineland bastard" by the Nazis.
Although Jews were the primary targets of Hitler's attempt to create an Aryan nation, other ethnic minorities were also subjected to his campaign of ethnic cleansing. The film sheds light on the plight of Black Germans, who were a small minority in Germany at the time, most of whom lived in the Rhineland region as the offspring of French-African soldiers who had come to Germany after World War I. As reported by The New York Times, Where Hands Touch provides a new perspective on the experiences of Black Germans during the Holocaust.
Where Hands Touch Plot
Where Hands Touch is a romantic war drama film set in Nazi Germany during World War II. The film follows the story of Leyna, a 16-year-old girl of mixed German and African descent who lives with her mother and younger brother. Leyna's father was a French-African soldier who fought in World War I and is no longer in the picture.
As the film begins, Leyna is struggling to navigate life as a mixed-race person under the Nazis' fascist leadership. She faces discrimination and harassment from her classmates and is forced to carry an identification card identifying her as a "Rhineland Bastard," a derogatory term used by the Nazis to describe people of mixed race.
Despite the risks, Leyna falls in love with Lutz, a young German boy who is a member of the Hitler Youth. Lutz is initially unaware of Leyna's mixed-race background and is drawn to her for her intelligence and courage. However, as their relationship deepens, they face increasing pressure from the authorities and their families to end their relationship.
As the war draws to a close, Leyna and her family are rounded up and sent to a concentration camp. Lutz, who has joined the German army, is also captured by Allied forces and is held in a prisoner of war camp. Leyna and Lutz's fate becomes intertwined as they both fight to survive and reunite in a world torn apart by war and hate.
The film explores themes of identity, race, love, and survival during a turbulent time in history. It sheds light on the experiences of Black Germans during the Holocaust and provides a new perspective on a lesser-known aspect of the Nazi regime's campaign of ethnic cleansing.
Where Hands Touch Ending Explained
The ending of Where Hands Touch is a poignant and emotional culmination of the film's themes of love, identity, and survival. As the war draws to a close, Leyna and her family are transported to a concentration camp, where they face unimaginable horrors at the hands of the Nazis. Lutz, who has joined the German army, is also captured by Allied forces and is held in a prisoner of war camp.
In the final scenes of the film, Leyna and Lutz's paths cross once again in a powerful and unexpected way. Lutz manages to escape from the prisoner of war camp and makes his way to the concentration camp where Leyna and her family are being held. He risks his life to help Leyna and her brother escape, and the three of them flee the camp together.
However, their escape is short-lived as they are soon discovered by Nazi soldiers. In a heartbreaking moment, Leyna and Lutz are separated from her brother, who is taken away by the soldiers. As Leyna and Lutz face an uncertain future, they share a tender moment of intimacy and connection amidst the chaos and destruction around them.
The story of Where Hands Touch is a heart-wrenching tale of love and survival set against the backdrop of Nazi Germany. The film follows the life of Leyna, a biracial teenage girl struggling to find acceptance and belonging in a society that views her as an outsider. Despite the challenges she faces, she falls in love with Lutz, the son of a high-ranking SS officer, and becomes pregnant with his child.
Their love is put to the ultimate test when Leyna is sent to a Nazi labor camp, where she must keep her pregnancy hidden from the cruel and brutal guards who would show her no mercy. Lutz is also stationed at the camp as an SS guard, adding a layer of danger and complexity to their relationship.
As the war draws to a close and the Allies begin bombing the area, Lutz attempts to escape with Leyna, risking everything to save her and their unborn child. Tragically, his own father intervenes, killing Lutz in a heart-wrenching act of betrayal and violence.
Leyna is left alone and devastated, lying on the ground in shock and disbelief as the chaos of war rages around her. It is an emotionally charged moment that captures the intensity of their love and the heartbreaking toll of the conflict that tears them apart.
Eventually, an American soldier comes to her aid, taking Leyna to safety and reuniting her with her family in a displaced area. She is heavily pregnant and struggling to come to terms with the loss of the man she loved, but her resilience and determination shine through as she faces an uncertain future with strength and courage.
The emotional depth and complexity of the film's storyline leave a lasting impact, reminding us of the power of love and the resilience of the human spirit even in the darkest of times.
Is Where Hands Touch based on a true story - FAQs
No, Where Hands Touch is not based on a true story. However, the film does use historical facts to create a realistic portrayal of life for minorities during Nazi Germany.
Where Hands Touch was released on September 14, 2018.
Where Hands Touch was directed by Amma Asante, a British filmmaker known for her work on films such as Belle and A United Kingdom.
The film stars Amandla Stenberg as Leyna, the protagonist, and George MacKay as Lutz, the love interest. The cast also includes Abbie Cornish, Christopher Eccleston, and Tom Sweet.
Where Hands Touch has a rating of 31% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 5.2/10 on IMDb. The film received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising the performances and emotional impact while others criticized the historical accuracy and storytelling.