When Will It Be Again Like It Never Was Before

Joachim grows up in an unusual environment on the grounds of a large psychiatric hospital in Germany, where his father serves as the director. While he finds comfort and kinship with the patients, he struggles with a volatile relationship with his two older brothers. His home life is further complicated by a mother who yearns for Italy to escape the German rain and a father who leads a secretive private life. As Joachim matures over several decades, his stability is challenged by the loss of his first love and the gradual fragmentation of his family.

This comedy-drama was directed by Sonja Heiss and written by Heiss and Lars Hubrich. It marks the first film in the chronological list of works directed by Heiss. The production was a collaboration between Germany and Belgium, involving companies such as Frakas Productions and Warner Bros. Film Productions Germany. The cast features Merlin Rose, Arsseni Bultmann, and Camille Loup Moltzen as Joachim at different ages, alongside Laura Tonke and Devid Striesow.

Released in February 2023 with a runtime of 116 minutes, the film has received a moderate reception from viewers. It holds a rating of 6.7/10 on IMDb based on 724 votes, while it has a lower score of 5.5/10 on TMDB from 32 votes.