Late Shift (film)

Late Shift
Theatrical release poster
GermanHeldin
LiterallyHeroine
Directed byPetra Volpe
Written byPetra Volpe
Produced by
  • Lukas Hobi
  • Reto Schaerli
Starring
CinematographyJudith Kaufmann
Edited byHansjörg Weißbrich
Music byEmilie Levienaise-Farrouch
Production
companies
Distributed by
Release dates
  • February 17, 2025 (2025-02-17) (Berlinale)
  • February 27, 2025 (2025-02-27) (Switzerland)
Running time
91 minutes[1]
Countries
  • Switzerland
  • Germany
LanguageGerman
Budget€3.7 million[2]
Box office$2.2 million[3]

Late Shift (German: Heldin, lit. 'Heroine') is a 2025 drama film written and directed by Petra Volpe. Starring Leonie Benesch, the film focuses on a young nurse, Floria, who works with unwavering dedication in an understaffed hospital ward, but on this day, her shift turns into a nerve-racking race against time.[4][5]

The film had its world premiere in Berlinale Special Gala section of the 75th Berlin International Film Festival on 17 February 2025. It was theatrically released in Switzerland on 27 February by Filmcoopi.[6] It was selected as the Swiss entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards.[7]

Synopsis

Floria, a devoted surgical nurse in Switzerland, maneuvers through a demanding late shift in her understaffed ward. Despite the pressure, she meticulously tends to a critically ill mother, an elderly patient awaiting a diagnosis, and a high-maintenance private patient. However, a grave error brings her to the brink of collapse, threatening to derail her shift.

Cast

  • Leonie Benesch as Floria
  • Sonja Riesen as Bea Schmid
  • Selma Aldin as Amelie Afshar
  • Alireza Bayram as Jan Sharif
  • Ali Kandaş as Nabil Bilgin
  • Aline Beetschen as Evelyn Bühler
  • Jasmin Mattei as Claudia Bach
  • Urs Bihler as Mr. Leu
  • Nicole Bachmann as Dr. Strobel
  • Doris Schefer as Pascale Schneider
  • Margherita Schoch as Mrs. Kuhn
  • Lale Yavaş as Patient
  • Pema Shitsetsang as Doctor

Production

Principal photography began on 22 January 2024 on locations in Canton of Zurich and Basel-Landschaft. Filming ended on 9 March 2024 in Kilchberg, Zurich.[8]

The film was shot in Cantonal Hospital Baselland in Basel-Landschaft.[9][10]

Release

Late Shift had its world premiere on 17 February 2025, as part of the 75th Berlin International Film Festival, in Berlinale Special Gala.[11][12]

It was released theatrically in Swiss theaters on 27 February 2025 by Filmcoopi Zurich.[13]

The film featured at the 72nd Sydney Film Festival in the Features section on 7 June 2025.[14] It was also featured at The 25th European Film Festival held in conjunction with 8th Malaysia International Film Festival and screened on 21 July 2025.[15] It was screened at the 78th Locarno Film Festival on 11 August 2025 in Swiss Panorama section.[16] It was also showcased at the 53rd Norwegian International Film Festival in Main Programme section on 17 August 2025.[17]

On 6 August, the film was shortlisted along with two other films as Switzerland‘s Oscar submission for 98th Academy Awards,[18] and on 12 August it was selected as Switzerland’s official entry to the Oscars. Music Box Films acquired the North American distribution rights of the film on the same day.[19]

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 95% of 19 critics' reviews are positive.[20]

Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian rated the film three stars out of five, and wrote, that the film was shot in the Aaron Sorkin walk-and-talk lines style, with protagonist "exchanging terse technical dialogue with colleagues in the corridors." Bradshaw concluded the review praising Leonie Benesch, writing, [she] brings a tough, smart, credible presence."[21]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Late Shift (12)". British Board of Film Classification. 26 June 2025. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  2. ^ "PRESS RELEASE: TRUSTNORDISK BOARDS PETRA VOLPE'S HOSPITAL DRAMA HELDIN (ORIGINAL TITLE) STARRING LEONIE BENESCH". TrustNordisk. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  3. ^ "Late Shift". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  4. ^ "Heldin" [Late Shift]. Swiss Films (in German). 28 January 2025. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  5. ^ "Heldin" [Late Shift]. Schmidt Schumacher (in German). 28 January 2025. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  6. ^ Davide Abbatescianni (21 January 2025). "The Berlinale unveils the titles playing in its Competition and its Perspectives and Berlinale Special strands". Cineuropa. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  7. ^ "European titles submitted for the Oscars race". Cineuropa. 12 August 2025. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  8. ^ "Late Shift: Feature Film, 2024-2025, Germany, Switzerland". Crew United. 15 December 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  9. ^ "Herdin, Schweiz Deutschland, 2024-2025, Spielfilm" [Late Shift, Switzerland Germany 2024-2025 Feature Film]. filmportal.de (in German). 16 January 2025. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  10. ^ "Spielfilm «Heldin» entsteht als SRF-Koproduktion" [Feature film "Heldin" is being made as an SRF co-production]. SRGD (in German). 26 January 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  11. ^ Rosser, Michael (21 January 2025). "Berlin film festival reveals 2025 competition line-up 2025". ScreenDaily. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  12. ^ "Late Shift". Berlinale. 4 February 2025. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
  13. ^ "Heldin" [Late Shift]. Film Starts (in German). 12 September 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  14. ^ "Late Shift". Sydney Film Festival. 4 June 2025. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  15. ^ "Film Lineup 2025". MIFFest. 12 June 2025. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
  16. ^ "Panorama Suisse". Locarno Film Festival. 9 July 2025. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
  17. ^ "Late Shift". Norwegian International Film Festival. 31 July 2025. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
  18. ^ "Three films on the Swiss shortlist for the 2026 Oscars". SWI swissinfo. 6 August 2025. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  19. ^ Leo Barraclough (12 August 2025). "'Late Shift,' Starring Leonie Benesch, Sells to Music Box for North America as Film Is Selected as Swiss Oscar Entry". Variety. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  20. ^ "Late Shift". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
  21. ^ Bradshaw, Peter (29 July 2025). "Late Shift review – pressure is on in badly understaffed hospital as compassion shines through". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
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