An intimate portrait of a temporary home in Germany, where everyday life becomes a powerful lesson in family.

Deep in a forest, by the shore of a tranquil lake, stands a house that feels almost like home. Inside, children who cannot live with their families try to rebuild a sense of belonging. Their parents are absent, but three dedicated youth workers step in – not to replace them, but to offer safety, warmth, and the feeling of being seen. They cook, listen, help with homework, and read bedtime stories, shift after shift, creating small moments of normality in lives marked by instability.

“The Family Approach” invites us into this fragile microcosm where care is both a profession and an act of love. Following the daily rhythm of a residential home over the course of a year, the film portrays the unspoken bonds that grow between children and those who look after them. It is a moving reminder that family is not always defined by blood, but by the courage to stay present – even when the home is temporary.