Berlinale 2026: ‘Mouse’ is a Very Honest Film About Being a Teenager

There are tons of films made every year about teenagers, friendships, growing up, grief, and everything else related to being a young person. But there are few films that are like this one. It stands alone and stands out, which makes a difference within cinema these days. Mouse is the second feature film made by acclaimed indie filmmakers Kelly O’Sullivan and Alex Thompson, their follow-up to the Sundance hit Ghostlight from 2024. Surprisingly, the Sundance Film Festival decided not to play their latest film (I’m quite shocked) and it instead premiered at the 2026 Berlin Film Festival in the Panorama section. I’m glad I took the time to catch it at Berlinale because it’s absolutely worth a watch. While not entirely as endearing and uplifting as Ghostlight, Mouse is a tender and touching in its own clever ways. Mouse features pure, distinct filmmaking that feels entirely of its own. No other filmmakers are making films that look and sound and feel exactly like this – even telling similar stories about teenagers dealing with grief, parents, and everything overwhelming. // Continue Reading ›