Mit Burnout durch den Wald

Six very different people are coaxed into a weekend program by a therapist who promises a pioneering approach to burnout: a guided hike to a lonely hotel in the Märkischen Schweiz meant to unsettle their routines and test how they cope. Johann, a corporate consultant, was nudged into the course by his PA after being pushed out at work. Sylvia is an overconfident teacher and single mom who lives with tinnitus. Alfred, an editing lecturer, is floundering after countless rejections. Rosa drifts between short-term design gigs. Newly retired Herbert wants adventure, while his cautious wife Gudrun clings to safety. As the group faces outdoor exercises and awkward closeness, the therapist’s control slips and tensions rise, with humor and heartbreak along the way.

This 2014 German TV movie was directed by Michael Rowitz and created by Markus B. Altmeyer. The ensemble cast includes Jutta Speidel, Walter Kreye, Martin Brambach, Stefanie Stappenbeck, and Maximilian von Pufendorf, giving the piece a stagelike, character-focused feel.

The film taps into growing public talk about burnout and work-life balance, bringing that discussion into a domestic prime-time setting. Its forest hotel backdrop and group exercises produce a handful of sharp, human moments that resonate with viewers who recognize the strains of modern work culture.

Responses were mixed, reflected in a modest 5.0/10 viewer rating from a small sample. Many viewers appreciated the actors and the blend of comedy and drama, while others felt the tone wavered and the script handled some relationships unevenly. Overall it works as a character study more than a tightly plotted drama, with themes of reinvention, aging, and the awkwardness of forced intimacy.

There are no records of major awards or high-profile nominations for this production, and it remains a modest entry in German television cinema with particular appeal for audiences interested in workplace stress and small-cast ensemble stories.