German Film Screening: Into the Beat

Into the Beat is a beautiful film directed by Stefan Westerwellea, where teen ballerina Katya, played by Alexandra Pfeifer, discovers hip-hop by chance and is faced with an impossible choice: Does she follow her parents’ footsteps... or her newfound passion?

For Hamburg ballet student Katya, the hard training for a scholarship at the New York Ballet Academy is almost a matter of course, as she is the daughter of Victor Orlow, a celebrated ballet dancer who, after the death of his wife, is now looking after Katya and her younger brother Paul on her own. There are only three weeks left until the exam under the merciless regime of the dance teacher. One day, however, Katya discovers a factory hall on her way where people are dancing - albeit to completely different sounds and with impetuous acrobatic movements. She immerses herself in this young, wild hip-hop dance scene, feels free, is recognized and meets the dancer Marlon, played by Yalany Marschner. But the more she feels that this is her form of expression, the more she comes into a conflict of conscience with her beloved father, who can no longer dance since an accident on stage. The daughter, however, feels obliged to continue the ballet tradition in the family. Katya has to make a decision.