LATE SHIFT

Synopsis

Floria, a dedicated nurse, navigates the relentless pace of her hospital’s understaffed surgical ward with humanity and warmth. As the day intensifies, she is pushed to the brink in a race against time.

Statement of the director(s)

LATE SHIFT is a love letter and a cinematic tribute to one of the most important professions in our society: nursing. Behind every hospital door is a world of invisible labour, carried out by people whose empathy and endurance hold the fragile threads of our lives together. Nurses accompany us through some of the most vulnerable and defining moments of our lives. They care for us when we are sick, when we are aging, and when we face the fragility of our own bodies. It’s symptomatic that a profession that is predominantly carried out by women is overlooked, undervalued, or misunderstood. With this film, we wanted to shine a light on their world, to create both a cinematic experience and a heartfelt acknowledgment of the responsibility they carry every single day.
The inspiration for LATE SHIFT grew out of my personal life. For many years, I shared my life with a nurse, and through her, I witnessed first-hand the immense challenges of the profession. Each day she returned from work with stories that carried both profound beauty and devastating exhaustion. There were moments of joy and connection with patients, but also endless frustration rooted in the structural problems of the healthcare system. The increasing burden of staff shortage, the lack of appreciation, and the relentless pressure left deep marks on her. During COVID, people stepped out onto their balconies to applaud nurses, but once the pandemic ended, the topic quickly faded from public attention – even though the crisis in healthcare remains.
The WHO estimates a shortage of 13 million nurses by the year 2030. This is not just an abstract statistic. It means real human suffering – of patients and of the staff forced to shoulder unbearable workloads. In LATE SHIFT, we wanted to make this crisis tangible.
The decision to set the entire film within a single late shift was inspired by my research, particularly Madeline Calvelage’s "Our Profession Is Not the Problem – It’s the Circumstances", which vividly portrays the reality of everyday nursing. Striving for accuracy and authenticity, I conducted dozens of interviews with nurses in Switzerland, Germany, and the United States, and spent several days on a ward with my Director of Photography to understand the rhythm and pace of the work. Throughout production, we were accompanied by a professional nurse who also coached our lead actress, Leonie Benesch. By condensing the story into one breathless shift, we sought to create a visceral experience that authentically captures the quiet heroism of a nurse.
If we truly value those who care for us, then their struggles must become our struggles too. One day, every one of us will depend on a nurse’s hands, patience, and expertise. LATE SHIFT, is a pledge to recognise, support, and stand alongside the extraordinary people who guide us with compassion through life’s most vulnerable moments.

Review

Screen International Review