Tiger's Smile

Germany / / 00:07:04 min

Sixteen-year-old Leni grows up in poverty, shaped by her mother Jana’s alcoholism and constant financial worries. When mother and daughter go to return their collected bottles at the local supermarket, Leni runs into her classmate Sophia. Sophia belongs to a clique of wealthy girls who, unlike Leni, seem to drift through life without a care. She greets Leni kindly, but when her eyes land on Leni’s mother, Leni thinks she sees a flicker of judgment. Shame creeps in - for her mother, for the meagre groceries ahead, and for the alcohol that, as always, will end up in the cart by the liter. While Sophia and her friends stroll through the aisles carefree, picking up whatever they feel like, Leni has to stick to no-name products meant for daily survival. Her wish for the expensive brand-name cornflakes is denied by her mother. At the checkout, Leni’s worst nightmare comes true: they’re short on money, and the bottle deposit receipt is nowhere to be found. Of all people, it’s Sophia who finds the slip and hands it to Leni. As Leni and Jana leave the supermarket, Leni discovers a box of the brand-name cornflakes - a silent gesture of maternal love.