Wenn du Angst hast nimmst du dein Herz in den Mund und lächelst

Twelve-year-old Anna switches from middle school to high school. Things are quite different here: the children in the new school come from a completely other social class. Anna feels ashamed of her background and her deaf mother. During the ski week, Anna must pretend to be sick. The money set aside for the ski course is spent on buying a sofa bed, which should enable her mother to have a sexual relationship, but also provide the daughter with a bit more privacy. Mara, a friend in class, becomes an ally when it turns out that she also is hiding a secret. "If You Are Afraid You Put Your Heart Into Your Mouth And Smile" tells of a journey from shame to pride and examines what it's like to learn to stand up for yourself. Marie Luise Lehner's debut film tells a story of hope, affection, mutual care, and solidarity.

"Staying close to its heroines, this refreshing debut blends solidarity, feminism and tons of melodies."
Berlinale Forum

Awards
Berlinale Forum: Teddy Jury Award & CICAE Art Cinema Award
Drehbuchverband Austria: Thomas Pluch Drehbuchpreis, Spezialpreis der Jury
Crossing Europe Filmfestival, Linz: Award Local Artist - Young Talent
Pink Apple Film Festival, Zürich: Best Film, International Competition & Audiance Award

Marie Luise Lehner was born in 1995 and lives in Vienna. A filmmaker, author, and punk musician. After studying at the Institut für Sprachkunst at the University of Applied Arts, she studied screenwriting at the Film Academy Vienna. She is pursuing master’s degrees in directing at the Film Academy and in contextual painting at the Academy of Fine Arts. She has written scripts, prose, and two novels. Her short films have been shown at various international film festivals and her literary works have received many prizes. Since 2012, she has caused a furore with her feminist punk band Schapka.

Films: 2016: Kaugummizigaretten / Candy Cigarettes. 2018: Geh Vau / Sexual Intercourse. 2020: Zwischenräume / Gaps. 2022: Mein Hosenschlitz ist offen. Wie mein Herz / The zip of my pants is open: Like my heart. 2023: Im Traum sind alle Quallen feucht / In their dreams all jellyfish are wet. 2025: Wenn du Angst hast nimmst du dein Herz in den Mund und lächelst / If You Are Afraid You Put Your Heart into Your Mouth and Smile.

Director Marie Luise Lehner. Screenplay Marie Luise Lehner. Cinematography Simone Hart. Editing Jana Libnik, Joana Scrinzi, Alexandra Schneider. Sound Design Lenja Gathmann. Sound Ines Vorreiter. Production Design Julia Libiseller, Gerald Freimuth. Costumes Marlene Pleyl. Make-Up Nora Conradi. Casting Martina Poel. Producers Katharina Posch, Michael Kitzberger, Wolfgang Widerhofer, Markus Glaser. Production company Nikolaus Geyrhalter Filmproduktion (Wien, Austria). With Siena Popović, Mariya Menner, Jessica Paar.