A Stroll to Syracuse (2026): Cast, Story and Release Details

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A Stroll to Syracuse follows Paul Gompitz, a man from Rostock who dreams of reaching Sicily in the footsteps of poet Johann Gottlieb Seume. Living in the GDR makes the journey impossible through legal channels, forcing Paul to prepare an escape in this 2026 drama comedy.

A Stroll to Syracuse is a German-Italian drama comedy about an ordinary man facing an extraordinary travel problem. Paul Gompitz, from Rostock, decides to make his way to Syracuse in Sicily, inspired by the route and example of poet Johann Gottlieb Seume.

The obstacle is not distance alone. Paul lives in the GDR, where crossing the border legally is impossible for him. His personal travel plan therefore becomes a dangerous escape plan, giving the film a road-movie premise shaped by both comedy and tragedy.

A Stroll to Syracuse movie details

Story without spoilers

Paul Gompitz reaches a turning point in his life and chooses Syracuse as his destination. His motivation is closely connected to Johann Gottlieb Seume, the poet whose footsteps he wants to follow.

Because Paul lives in the GDR, the trip cannot be arranged through ordinary legal means. The story centers on the preparations for his escape and the complications created when a private dream comes into conflict with the restrictions of the state. The supplied premise presents the film as a journey shaped by determination, risk and an uneasy blend of humorous and serious elements.

What to expect

The film is identified as a drama and comedy, as well as a road movie and tragicomedy. That combination points to a story balancing the absurdity of Paul’s situation with the serious consequences of attempting to leave the GDR illegally. Its literary connection to Johann Gottlieb Seume also gives the journey a clear historical and cultural point of reference.

At 1 hour and 37 minutes, A Stroll to Syracuse is a relatively compact feature. The premise is focused on one man’s decision, the obstacles surrounding it and the preparations required to pursue an otherwise impossible route.

Cast and creative team

Charly Hübner leads the cast as Paul Gompitz, with Lina Beckmann playing Anne Gompitz. Jens Münchow appears as Bootsmann Peter, while Mélanie Fouché plays Nina. Thorsten Merten, Bruno Di Chiara, Tom Jahn, Max Tuveri, Christian Näthe and Anna Unterberger are also credited in the cast.

Lars Jessen directs the film. The screenplay is credited to Heide Kersten and Andreas Kersten.

• Charly Hübner as Paul Gompitz
• Lina Beckmann as Anne Gompitz
• Thorsten Merten
• Bruno Di Chiara
• Jens Münchow as Bootsmann Peter
• Tom Jahn
• Max Tuveri
• Christian Näthe
• Mélanie Fouché as Nina
• Anna Unterberger

Release and production context

A Stroll to Syracuse is listed as a 2026 release with a release date of August 20, 2026. It has a runtime of 1 hour and 37 minutes, is produced in Germany and Italy, and is spoken in German.

The production companies are Florida Film, Pandora Film, ZDF, ARTE and Kino Produzioni. The film is also identified as being based on a novel or book, in addition to its road-movie and tragicomedy classifications.

Production companies: Florida Film, Pandora Film, ZDF, ARTE, Kino Produzioni

Movies Dock view

With its GDR setting, literary inspiration and tightly defined escape premise, A Stroll to Syracuse places a personal travel dream against a rigid political reality. The result is positioned as a concise drama comedy about the risks and complications of trying to turn an impossible journey into a real one.

Film data:
TMDB · IMDb