Center of My World

Center of My World is a 2016 coming-of-age drama directed by Jakob M. Erwa, based on the acclaimed semi-autobiographical novel by Andreas Steinhöfel. The film blends themes of adolescence, first love, and the search for identity with a poignant exploration of family dynamics. It follows seventeen-year-old Phil, played by Louis Hofmann, who returns from summer camp to find his unconventional home life in disarray. His mother, Glass (Sabine Timoteo), is distant and absorbed in her own affairs, while his twin sister, Dianne (Ada Philine Stappenbeck), has grown strangely withdrawn. As Phil tries to make sense of the tension within his family, his world is turned upside down by the arrival of a new classmate, Nicholas (Jannik Schümann), whose charm and mystery awaken Phil’s romantic desires.

The film’s narrative is told largely from Phil’s perspective, using his voiceover to guide viewers through past and present events. This storytelling choice allows the audience to experience the emotional turbulence of adolescence firsthand—complete with its confusion, longing, and intense highs and lows. Flashbacks reveal Phil’s childhood and the circumstances that shaped his unconventional upbringing, gradually exposing the emotional fractures within his family. Meanwhile, the blossoming romance between Phil and Nicholas is depicted with a mix of tenderness and vulnerability, capturing both the exhilaration and the risks of first love.

One of Center of My World’s strengths lies in its refusal to reduce characters to clichés. Phil is not simply “the gay protagonist,” but a multifaceted teenager struggling with universal questions of belonging and acceptance. Glass, while flawed and sometimes selfish, is also vibrant and free-spirited, embodying both the allure and the chaos of a life lived without rules. Even Dianne, whose silence and aloofness frustrate Phil, is revealed to have her own wounds and motivations. The complex web of relationships gives the film emotional depth beyond its romantic plotline.

Visually, the film is rich and expressive, using warm, sunlit imagery for moments of intimacy and darker, muted tones for scenes of conflict or isolation. The cinematography mirrors Phil’s emotional state, creating a lyrical, almost dreamlike atmosphere that heightens the sense of personal discovery. The music, composed by André Dziezuk, complements this aesthetic, blending gentle melodies with more dramatic arrangements to underscore the film’s shifting moods.

Critically, Center of My World has been praised for its sensitive treatment of queer adolescence, avoiding stereotypes while portraying same-sex attraction as an ordinary, natural part of growing up. It also resonates with anyone who has navigated the messy terrain of family life and self-discovery. While the film’s pacing is deliberate and its focus introspective, it rewards patient viewers with an emotionally authentic and visually captivating story.

Ultimately, Center of My World is about more than romance—it is a meditation on how we define ourselves in relation to the people around us. Phil’s journey is one of learning to embrace both love and loss, to understand that identity is shaped not only by the relationships we cherish but also by the conflicts we survive. With its heartfelt performances, thoughtful direction, and nuanced storytelling, the film stands out as a moving portrait of youth at its most vulnerable and transformative.