Psychological disorders in children and young adults are the subject matter for “Safe”, a series produced for German TV channel ZDF. The first drama series by Oscar winner Caroline Link revolves around therapy with children. The staged therapy sessions are exciting and emotional – just like Life itself.
Six-year-old Ronja is having her eighth therapy session with Katinka. The little girl puts on makeup and plays dress-up and explains to her therapist what she thinks is important when it comes to men. Without judging her behavior, Katinka lets Ronja do as she pleases, mirroring her confusing feelings back to her. Ronja bounces back and forth between wanting to imitate an adult woman and wanting to suck on a baby bottle, to be held by her mother.
Katinka experiences one disappointment after another in her relationship with Michael, a married physician. Tom’s 15-year-old daughter Hanna announces she is coming for a visit. Lunchtime offers a chance for socializing. Eight-year-old Jonas comes to see Tom for the first time with his parents. The boy’s father is dealing with terminal cancer, and Jonas is severely impacted by it. He is unable to concentrate and sinks into feelings of deep sadness more and more often.
Tense and wary, Sam shows up for his second therapy session. Tom realizes that Sam wants to accept his help, but is trapped in his own defenses. Sam was caught stealing and was reported to the authorities. His foster mother Claudia is disappointed in him. Tom offers to help, and the therapist is able to communicate to the boy that all people are capable of determining their own fate themselves through their actions.
While Katinka is making popcorn for a hungry Nellie, the girl grows nauseous. She pushes Katinka to go outside with her and get some fresh air. The therapist wants to try something new with Nellie there. Katinka spreads a large white sheet of paper out on the grass, traces the outline of Nellie’s body on it, and then asks her to use bright colors to put her feelings there. As she looks at the resulting picture, one feeling conspicuously stands out.
Ronja’s father, Matthias Reiminger, shows up for the parental consultation. Suspicious, he is slow to respond to Katinka’s questions. Matthias feels overwhelmed, and not just at the practice. He works as a cook, which leaves him little free time. He feels his ex-wife’s influence on the children is negative. Using therapeutic intervention, Katinka is able to show him how important spending time with him is for his two children.
In the yard behind the practice, therapist Tom plays soccer with Jonas. The boy wins, and Tom helps him integrate the euphoric feeling of joy and strength into his body with a gesture. This is something the boy can put to good use, because his terminally ill father is now in hospice care. He has entrusted Jonas with his wristwatch, a family heirloom, which Jonas wants to build a jewelry box for. While working on it, Jonas confides in Tom.
Beaming with joy, Ronja tells her therapist Katinka that she received an invitation to a birthday party from the “prettiest girl in the whole group” at kindergarten. She wants to paint something for Clara to give her as a present. As the painting takes shape in front of her, Ronja realizes with Katinka’s help that this unequal friendship is not doing her any good. In a healthy state of anger, she destroys the picture with wet sand and empowers herself in the process.
Using the screen technique, Nellie returns once again to the place of dark memories. Guided by Katinka, she will try to integrate her trauma into her life. Jonas’s father has died. Tom makes room for grief and waits cautiously until Jonas himself begins to talk about other experiences on his own. From now on, Jonas has to live with the loss. He lets his pent-up feelings run free in a wild rain dance.
