When we suffer a loss, it hits us in different ways. And, often, it can take a long time to heal. But the hope is that we find a way to deal with the loss and move forward. It’s not about forgetting; it’s about accepting and finding a path forward.

Sometimes that path forward takes an unexpected route. That’s certainly the case for Miroirs No. 3, a new film from writer/director Christian Petzold that expands to more theaters Friday. The German film, which played festivals in 2025 and is getting a wider look now, focuses on four people who need help moving forward. But that help comes from each other forged through a coincidental meeting.

At the outset, Laura (Paula Beer) is a music student in a rocky relationship. She’s due to go away with her boyfriend, but something doesn’t sit right. So, he agrees to take her back. Along the way, they nearly collide with Betty (Barbara Auer) on a country road outside her home. As the car speeds away shortly after, it veers off the road and flips. Miraculously Laura is lightly injured, but her boyfriend is killed.

When the paramedics arrive after Betty helped Laura to her house from the accident scene, Laura doesn’t want to go to the hospital. She doesn’t want to go anywhere. So, she asks Betty to stay in the country house. Betty, feeling a connection to the woman, agrees. They spend a few days getting to know each other before Betty suggests a dinner party with her estranged husband (Matthias Brandt) and adult son Max (Enno Trebs).

At first, it’s an awkward pairing. But soon, the four seem to get on well and spend days seemingly isolated from the demands of the real world. It turns out Betty and her family are dealing with their own grief, and the presence of Laura helps them to finally address those old wounds and move forward.

Petzold is a unique director that has offered some quietly beautiful and emotional stories. And he’s found a frequent collaborator in Beer, who has starred in four films for him including this one. They work well together, which enables her to slide into the role and seemingly dominate all the time she’s on the screen.

I was caught off guard at first because this seems like such a strange start to the journey. A stranger allows another stranger who is fresh off an accident to stay at her home. But as we move forward the twist of what’s to come becomes more obvious. And soon, it becomes more obvious why these people need each other.

As so often happens with independent films from overseas, this doesn’t have any concrete resolution. We see these characters move forward. It ends in a happy enough place. But it lacks defined shape. That will be difficult for some, especially American audiences that are used to more of a closed loop.

Still, this is a film about a vibe. It’s about dealing with grief. It’s about finding a connection. And it’s about starting to live again. I enjoyed the journey for what it is, and I think others will enjoy it too.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.