Young, curious and full of determination, Siri Hustvedt left her Norwegian-born parents and home in Minnesota in 1978 and threw herself into the pulsating life of New York. In search of the protagonist for her first novel, she embarked on a journey that made her not only a writer, but one of the most important voices in contemporary American literature.
The film looks far beyond Siri Hustvedt's life, showcasing the combative creativity of artists with whom the writer feels an affinity and who inspire her. It also tells of her husband Paul Auster and the love story of the legendary Brooklyn writing couple. As the two reflect on identity and the power of words, the harsh realities of life intervene: Paul becomes seriously ill.
The documentary is directed by Sabine Lidl and premiered in the Panorama section at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2026, and later at CPH:DOX. It received the award for Best Documentary at Germany's national film awards (Deutscher Filmpreis).
Cast: Siri Hustvedt, Paul Auster, Sophie Auster, Katerina Fotopoulou, Liv Hustvedt
Director: Sabine Lidl
Premiere: 28.8.2026
Genre: Documentary
Duration: 1h 50m
Age rating: A