The film centres on key episodes in the life of Nobel Prize-winning German writer Thomas Mann.
According to the producers, the story explores Mann’s relationship with his daughter Erika—an actress, journalist and rally driver—as they embark on a road trip across postwar Germany at the height of the Cold War, travelling from US-dominated Frankfurt to Soviet-controlled Weimar.
Pawlikowski co-wrote the script with Hendrik Handloegten.
The film stars Hanns Zischler as Mann and Sandra Hüller as Erika.
The cinematography is by Poland's Łukasz Żal, and the creative team also includes Polish costume designer Aleksandra Staszko, editor Piotr Wójcik, production designers Katarzyna Sobańska and Marcel Sławiński, and composer Marcin Masecki.
Fatherland is Pawlikowski’s first feature since Cold War, which won best director at Cannes in 2018 and received three Academy Award nominations, including for best international film.
Pawlikowski previously won an Academy Award for best foreign-language film for Ida in 2015.
The 79th Cannes Film Festival will be held from May 12 to 23.
(mk/gs)