Carolin Arends (Jessica Stautz) is a cop on a mission. Just before Christmas, while cataloging old evidence in storage, she stumbles onto a decade-old mystery with a scope that could change reality. She and her partner Thomas (Max Ranft) try their hardest to tie up the loose ends they’ve found, but despite their efforts, the solution to the mystery slips through their fingers. Eventually, Carolin faces down a psychopath with delusions of godhood, a fellow cop who is willing to do anything, including killing, to make the changes he desires in the world.
Asche is a film that, while intriguing, can be a bit frustrating. The film shows a lot of ambition but seems to struggle with finding a clear focus. It blends romance, police procedural, sci-fi, corporate thriller, and a few other elements, but this mix can sometimes cause the narrative to feel a bit unfocused.
The film shows us a lot, but at times it feels like we’re not given enough context to fully understand the bigger picture. We get some intimate conversations with characters central to the conspiracy, but we’re never really told what the book is, what it can do, or why there’s a conspiracy around it. A bit more clarity on these points would have gone a long way in strengthening the plot. To Director Tobias Obentheuer: Simplifying the plot and focusing on fewer elements could help the film feel more cohesive and engaging.
Visually, Asche is stunning, with beautiful cinematography that brings the story to life. However, the story itself can sometimes feel like it’s trying to be a bit too much, which can make it difficult to stay fully connected. The actors do a great job delivering their lines, but their motivations sometimes seem unclear, which can leave the viewer feeling a bit uncertain about their actions.
Had Asche chosen a more focused storyline—perhaps a classic "cop in over her head" scenario or a more streamlined sci-fi element—it could have been even more compelling. As it stands, ASCHE has a place in German-language drama collections, especially for those interested in the interpersonal dynamics of the characters. It could be a good choice for advanced German language coursework or film analysis, but for casual thriller fans, it might feel a bit too complex.