Film Screening: ‘Nico’ is a German Social Drama With a Punch

Nico (2021) is a feature film that addresses violence – the indifferent violence women face in everyday life and the targeted violence people endure due to their ethnicity. The Goethe-Institut in Johannesburg is hosting a one-night screening of this poignant and eye-opening film on Thursday, 17 April 2025. Here’s what you need to know.

What is Nico about?

The film stars Sara Fazilat, who brilliantly portrays Nico, a character with Iranian roots and Berliner bluntness.

Nico is a highly appreciated geriatric nurse, well-liked for her constant good mood. However, her life is shattered when she is brutally attacked by three young, racist Germans. The film brings viewers so close to Nico that they can palpably feel the psychological effects of the violence, making the trauma almost physical.

Sara Fazilat takes viewers through Nico’s journey of fear, anger, and resignation, as well as her self-imposed isolation and rigorous karate training, until she finally finds the strength for a new light-heartedness.

The film is in German but includes English subtitles.

Cost: FREE entry

When: Thursday, 17 April 2025 from 6pm to 7.15pm
Where: Goethe-Institut South Africa, 119 Jan Smuts Ave, Parkwood, Johannesburg

More about the Goethe-Institut

The Goethe-Institut aims to cultivate international and local cultural exchange through the arts, sciences and languages. With over 100 institutes worldwide, and 14 in the sub-Saharan region, including the one in Johannesburg, the Goethe-Institut is committed to fostering transnational diversity, understanding and trust.

The Johannesburg institute’s Language department offers German lessons in the Goethe-Institut and otherwise, supporting German teachers in the country and working closely with the South African Department of Education.

Their Library and Information Department works in partnership with libraries and other institutions involved in book and reading promotion in South Africa and encourages exchanges between information specialists and publishers in South Africa, sub-Saharan Africa and Germany.

And their Cultural Programmes Department focuses on a variety of different artistic approaches from the visual arts to drama, dance, literature, film, and others to support the local cultural scenes and strengthen pan-African dialogue through the arts.