Mein Wald

Forester Jennifer Kruspe loves the forest. But her work is no longer just about caring for it—it involves constantly balancing nature conservation, economic interests, and the climate crisis. Over the course of five years, the film follows the forester through a period in which Germany’s forests are undergoing dramatic changes. Hardly any other place in Germany is as emotionally charged and at the same time under such intense pressure as the forest. It is a canvas for our hopes, a savior of the climate, an economic resource, and a place of longing all at once. As the consequences of climate change become increasingly visible, so do the expectations placed on the forest: It is expected to store CO₂, protect habitats, provide recreation, and at the same time supply the raw material wood.

At the center of the documentary film MY FOREST – 5 YEARS BETWEEN MYTH AND RAW MATERIAL is forester Jennifer Kruspe and her work on the Hörselberg in the heart of Thuringia—in one of Germany’s most endangered forest areas. This long-term observation reveals how the forest is changing and how complex the task has become of preserving it while also making it economically viable.

Jennifer Kruspe must keep a variety of interests in mind. Forest owners expect economic returns, hunters fight to maintain their influence over wildlife populations, and local residents see the forest as their home. At the same time, trees are dying due to drought, heat, and pest infestations. The decisions the forester makes today often don’t take effect until decades later. With each passing year, the same question arises anew: How can Jennifer Kruspe possibly live up to all these expectations?

Through five years of long-term observation, the film paints a vivid picture of how ecological crises, economic pressure, and social conflicts concretely impact everyday life—not abstractly, but right on the ground. At the same time, the film unfolds a visually stunning, almost mythical dimension: gigantic harvesters seem like creatures from another world, while macro shots reveal hidden landscapes inside dead trees. The forest itself becomes the main character.

A Dokness production commissioned by MDR, NDR, SWR, and RBB, funded by nordmedia – Film- und Mediengesellschaft Niedersachsen/Bremen mbH, 2026.