Zone of Interest and Anatomy of a Fall‘s Sandra Hüller has reportedly joined a new period piece, with filming having begun, from Oscar-winning director Paweł Pawlikowski. Most recently, Pawlikowski’s 2018 movie Cold War was nominated for three Oscars: Best Director, Best Cinematography, and Best International Feature Film.

However, it was Pawlikowski’s 2013 movie Ida that won the Oscar for Best International Feature Film (then still called Best Foreign Language Film). The director co-wrote the script for the upcoming movie with Henk Handloegten. Meanwhile, Hüller cemented her star status when she featured in two Best Picture nominees in 2024 and was nominated for Best Lead Actress for Anatomy of a Fall.

Pawlikowski’s upcoming picture 1949 is described as a “Cold War road trip” movie, following a writer and his actress/journalist daughter (Hüller) as they travel across Germany. According to Variety, the production companies Mubi and Our Films are behind 1949, which is currently shooting in Poland, Germany, and Italy.

1949 also stars Hanns Zischler as the co-lead, Hüller’s character’s father, alongside August Diehl, Anna Madeley, Devid Striesow, and Theo Trebs. Pawlikowski is reuniting with several of his previous behind-the-camera collaborators, including Oscar-nominated cinematographer Lukasz Zal (for Ida and Cold War).

What This Means For Sandra Hüller & 1949

Both the lead actress and the director could be seeing another Oscar nomination in the future, as this movie sounds much like what they have proven is their specialty. With 1949 currently filming, it is more than likely not going to be released by the end of 2025 to be eligible for the 2026 Oscars. However, we could see it nominated the following year.

Most importantly, Pawlikowski has established himself as a reliable filmmaker, with multiple projects that have been recognized by the most prestigious awarding bodies and have attracted A-list talent. His and Handloegten’s new script is going to be perfect material for Hüller to act out another complex family drama against the backdrop of a bigger conflict.

Our Take On Sandra Hüller Starring In Paweł Pawlikowski’s 1949

1949 sounds like an intersection of continuing trends for both the lead star and the director. Pawlikowski’s last two movies, Ida and Cold War, are both thematically concerned with idenтιтy and relationships during the Cold War era. Hüller’s last two movies are both, to some extent, family-focused, despite the main characters being depicted in horrible circumstances.

And so, the well-equipped pair are taking on another project focusing on a central familial relationship in a historical setting, exploring how these circumstances affected people in nuanced ways. Sandra Hüller and Paweł Pawlikowski’s new movie sounds original yet such familiar territory for both of them that I would be surprised if we didn’t see it nominated in a couple of years.