23,000 Lives

Name: 23,000 Lives
Director: Markus Goller
Genre: Drama
Released: 2026
Duration: 1 h 53 min
Cast: Louis Hofmann, Mala Emde, Katharina Stark, Maria Dragus, Frederick Lau

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Drama

2026
Markus Goller
113 mins
15

Summary

A group of young people sets sail for the Mediterranean to save the lives of refugees - a mission that puts their ideas of law and justice to the test.

IMDB

Review

A star rating of 3 out of 5.

Calum Baker

Efficient and informative without a hint of showiness, this German-language drama tells the story of Jugend Rettet, a humanitarian organisation founded in 2015 to aid refugees trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea into Europe. Louis Hofmann leads the ensemble cast of idealistic young volunteers who fundraise, organise and then hit the high seas for their dangerous life-saving voyages. It's a film of simple morality and plain style that does great work in outlining the logistics and challenges of the operation itself, from its initial germ in a Berlin bar to the choppy peril of the waters around Malta and Lampedusa, via crowdfunding, palm-greasing and crucial first-aid training. It's nicely delivered by a naturalistic cast, while the screenplay admirably tries to critique the story's inherent "white saviour" elements and take a multifaceted look at the 2010s refugee crisis. Unfortunately, though righteous, it's not exactly stirring. Director Markus Goller is perhaps too preoccupied with maintaining a tasteful presentation to craft a more specific comment on these real horrors. Still, if much of the film - with its composite characters and rather pat discussions - can't quite come to life, the direct realism of the seabound scenes brings a regular jolt of genuine emotion. If nothing else, you'll be impressed throughout by the efforts put in by the real volunteers.

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5.3/10

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Credits

Cast

rolenameLukasLouis HofmannKittyMala EmdeNinaKatharina StarkViolaMaria DragusSörenFrederick LauLaminTrevor MagayaRoseKathy EtoaDominiqueLuisa GaffronLawyer GiuliaEleonora Romandini