#SHOWBIZ: Uncover powerful stories of war and identity at Kino Film Festival 2026

MOVIES can offer different perspectives on historical events, relationships, love, war and everyday life.

Out of the eight movies and one documentary offered in the 2026 Kino Film Festival, starting Oct 22, 'The Secret Floor' offers a focus on World War 2 from children's viewpoints.

It's about a boy, Karli, aged 12, who has moved in with his parents into an old hotel.

He discovers he can travel back in time through one lift. He (sadly!) whooshes back to 1938, befriends a Jewish girl, and we learn of the startling events that led us all to war.

He knows little about Germany in those years, and explanations of why some people were targeted, why some behaved the way they did back then, can help audiences today understand history better.

There's a difficult question Karli asks: Are the Nazis still in power in the future? Hmmm.

Directed by Norbert Lechner, 'The Secret Floor' is, at its core, a mystery movie, with Karli's new friend falsely accused of stealing.

It's sweet at times when it comes to children at play, making new friends, and growing up.

It won a few awards and was nominated for the 2016 German Film Awards for Outstanding Children or Youth Film.

Also on WW2 is 'Amrum', directed by Fatih Atkins. Set in 1945, it tells the story of a 12-year-old boy who helps the family out during those harsh war years.

Nanning lives in a seaside town called Amrum, an island on the German North Sea coast. It's a small rural community.

Refugees arrive, and tensions are sparked. The radio broadcasts that the Allies are winning, and Nanning is excited about the end of the war.

The question posed to him is whether, if Germany loses, then his father's sacrifice was for nothing. That's a harsh reality for a child. Does he lose his humanity in the end?

This coming-of-age movie won a few accolades, including the 2026 Bavarian Best Film Award.

Another war movie is 'Rose', set at the end of the Thirty Years' War, which was fought between 1618 and 1648.

Rose is a difficult watch, and deals with gender bias way back before women's rights were even thought of.

The lead character is said to be inspired by documented accounts of women disguised as men throughout European history.

She's been posing as a man for decades, and took on the identity of a dead fellow soldier.

When she wants to expand her land, the neighbouring farmer insists she marries his daughter.

Rose agrees, and mayhem culminates in murder.

There are dark scenes in this movie, written and directed by Markus Schleinzer. It is classified as a movie for 18 years and above.

Other movies dealing with gender bias and gender norms are 'Hallo Betty' and 'Wilma'.

A shoutout to 'Circusboy', an award-winning movie about Santino, a circus kid, and life on the road with his great-grandfather.

It won several awards, including the 2026 Berlin Film Gold Award for Outstanding Children or Youth Film.

The Kinofest is organised by the Goethe-Institut Malaysia in collaboration with Golden Screen Cinemas International Screens and the Malaysian German Society.

There will be post-screening discussions for selected films with Wayang Budiman, a community of film enthusiasts.

Catch the films at GSC Mid Valley, Kuala Lumpur from Oct 22-25, and at the Malaysian-German Society, Penang from Nov 20-22. Tickets are RM15.