First trailer arrives for Germany’s Oscar entry ‘Sound of Falling’ as U.S. debut nears

Mascha Schilinski's multi-award-winning film, Sound of Falling, has a US trailer now. The film, which is the second feature by the director, is also the German entry at the 98th Academy Awards. It has already been released in Germany on August 28, 2025.

According to the film's official logline,

"Four girls, Alma (1910s), Erika (1940s), Angelika (1980s), and Lenka (2020s) each spend their youth on the same farm in northern Germany. As the home evolves over a century, echoes of the past linger in its walls. Though separated by time, their lives begin to mirror each other, revealing shared secrets that have been kept hidden."

While Mascha Schilinski has directed it, she also co-wrote the film alongside Louise Peter. The idea for Sound of Falling came to them when they were visiting a farm in the Altmark, a historic region in Germany. When the development began, its working title was The Doctor Says I'll Be Alright, But I'm Feelin' Blue.

As for the casting of Sound of Falling, it took around a year, during which 1,400 girls were auditioned before four of them were finalized.

What do the critics say about Sound of Falling?

A still from Sound of Falling. (Image via MUBI)

95% of reviews on Rotten Tomatoes are positive about the film, with the website's consensus reading,

"Exquisitely well-crafted and laced with mordant humor, Sound of Falling is a haunting generational drama that announces Mascha Schillinski as a world-class directorial talent."

Film Inquiry's Lee Jutton feels that it might not be for everyone else, as the runtime is too long. But that didn't stop her from falling under the story's spell. Michael Nordine of Movie Brief was ardent on the fact that this is "the best film of this year." But the best part of his review was his emphasis on true cinema, as he explains that the movie is a "reminder of what movies — and only movies — can do."

RogerEbert.com's Brian Tallerico was impressed by the film's technical feat. It goes hand in hand with another review in which Ben Croll of TheWrap called the film's visuals, which are undeniably great, "alchemizing."

What will you see in the trailer?

The Sound of Falling trailer begins with a small girl standing with her family, who are probably attending a funeral, as they are all wearing black dresses. It is then followed by a glimpse of three more girls, who appear to be from different eras.

A German narrative begins, and you can read the subtitles to understand what the girl is saying. It will give you more of a feeling that it's a horror film despite being labeled as a drama on its Wikipedia page.

An interesting shot in it shows the same family we see in the beginning of the Sound of Falling trailer sitting together and dining. Suddenly, that changes to a different frame in the same shot where a new but smaller family is having a meal.

It certainly is a visual spectacle to the eye, which will open in the US theaters on January 16, 2026.