Where Hands Touch (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Where Hands Touch is a 2018 romantic drama directed by Amma Asante, starring Amandla Stenberg as Leyna, George MacKay and Abbie Cornish. It runs 2 hours 2 minutes and earned $128,269 worldwide. Critics gave it 43% on Rotten Tomatoes and 44 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.6/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 2m (122 min)
- Director
- Amma Asante
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Vertical Entertainment
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Where Hands Touch About?
The premise of Where Hands Touch without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
In 1944 Germany, Leyna, a teenager of mixed race, struggles to survive amidst the escalating tensions of war and pervasive prejudice. A chance encounter with Lutz, a young man involved in the Hitler Youth, leads to an unlikely connection as they both grapple with the oppressive nature of Nazi rule. While Leyna’s mother desperately tries to shield her from the dangers of being racially different, Leyna must find her own way to endure the turmoil and navigate a world consumed by hatred.
Where Hands Touch Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- nazi germany
- racism
- hitler youth
- teenage girl
- f rated
- directed by writer
- written and directed by female
- rhineland germany
- mother daughter relationship
- brother sister relationship
- single parent
- gestapo
+38 more Show fewer
- factory worker
- boyfriend girlfriend relationship
- father son relationship
- forest
- kiss
- reference to billie holiday
- sex on the floor
- labour camp
- female nudity
- kitchen worker
- concealed pregnancy
- camp guard
- potato
- man's ring
- allied invasion
- filicide
- shot in the back
- reunited with family
- french soldier
- expulsion
- women in world war ii
- world war two
- biracial person
- inspired by historical events
- romeo and juliet romance
- biracial teenager
- biracial teenage girl
- teenage girl as protagonist
- teenage protagonist
- female protagonist
- teenager
- female frontal nudity
- female rear nudity
- interracial kiss
- white man black woman kiss
- black woman white man kiss
- interracial love
- interracial romance
Where Hands Touch Cast & Characters
Amandla Stenberg leads the cast as Leyna, with George MacKay as Lutz and Abbie Cornish as Kerstin. Directed by Amma Asante; 14 actors are credited in all.
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Director Amma Asante
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Amandla Stenberg as Leyna -
George MacKay as Lutz -
Abbie Cornish as Kerstin -
Tom Sweet as Koen
Also Starring in Where Hands Touch
· 10 more- Christopher Eccleston Heinz
- Lucy Russell Teacher
- Alec Newman
- Will Attenborough Gunter
- Olivia Vinall
- Tim Faraday
- Ciarán Owens SS Officer #5
- Tom Goodman-Hill Wihelm Warner
- Daniel Weyman
- Adetomiwa Edun
Where Hands Touch Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Where Hands Touch 43% on Rotten Tomatoes and 44 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.6/10. Our Echo Score gives it 48/100, strongest in character & emotion (60) and weakest in rewatch factor (35).
Where Hands Touch Echo Score Breakdown
Where Hands Touch presents commendable technical elements and a committed lead performance, but its tonal inconsistencies and narrative missteps limit its impact. Several reviewers note moments of assured direction and effective framing, while others criticize a misjudged romantic gloss over brutal historical events. The central performances are praised for empathy and magnetism, yet the pacing and emotional manipulation divide opinion. The film’s uneven balance between humanistic intent and dramatic cohesion results in a mixed overall impression that struggles to cohere.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 50
In terms of art and craft, the film demonstrates moments of assured technical work alongside uneven stylistic choices. The direction often delivers confident framing and composition, yet critics highlight a glossy sheen that undercuts the gravity of camp scenes. Editing is functional but occasionally disrupts narrative momentum. Overall, the artistry is competent but marred by inconsistent tonal application.
- Character & Emotion 60
When it comes to character and emotion, the lead performance is frequently recognized for its empathetic depth and commanding presence. The portrayal of the mixed-race protagonist draws praise for sincerity, while the romantic dynamics are sometimes described as underdeveloped and lacking subtlety. Chemistry between leads is uneven, leading to debates over authenticity. In sum, strong individual performances elevate an otherwise conflicted emotional core.
- Story & Flow 45
Regarding story and flow, the film’s premise of dual identity in wartime offers compelling potential but falters in execution. Plotlines are criticized for feeling familiar or disjointed, with some sequences described as manipulative or falling apart in the second half. Pacing is uneven, oscillating between engaging moral dilemmas and moments of narrative stagnation. The overall structure remains inconsistent.
- Sensory Experience 50
In terms of sensory experience, the film blends a polished visual style with a discordant romantic gloss that clashes with its harrowing subject matter. Sound design and score support key emotional moments effectively, but heightened musical cues occasionally veer toward melodrama. The overall audio-visual cohesion is serviceable but lacks refinement.
- Rewatch Factor 35
When considering rewatch factor, the film’s uneven tone and narrative shortcomings limit its replay value. While the central performance and thematic exploration provide occasional appeal on repeat viewings, the reliance on emotional peaks and familiar plot beats may feel less engaging the second time. Overall, enduring appeal remains modest rather than compelling.
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IMDb 6.6 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 43% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 70%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 44 Metascore
User score 5.3
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 79% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 2.7 /5
77 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 2.3 /5
See on Movie Insider
Where Hands Touch Plot Summary
What happens in Where Hands Touch from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In the depths of Nazi Germany during World War II, a brave 16-year-old girl named Leyna finds herself in a perilous fight for survival. Living with her white mother, Kerstin, and her younger half-brother, Koen, Leyna struggles under the shadow of a regime that condemns her very existence as the offspring of an interracial relationship. Her mother’s past keeps them constantly under threat, as they are pursued for being a target of hatred by the oppressive Gestapo.
Full summary
The whole story of Where Hands Touch, scene by scene
Where Hands Touch Box Office
Where Hands Touch grossed $128,269 worldwide. $67,743 came from the US and Canada and $60,526 (47%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$128.3K
- US & Canada
- $67.7K
- International
- $60.5K
Where Hands Touch Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Where Hands Touch.
How Well Do You Know Where Hands Touch?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is Leyna's main struggle in 'Where Hands Touch'?
Cars in Where Hands Touch
22 cars on screen, including the Hotchkiss unknown and the 1938 Opel Blitz 2,5-32.
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Hotchkiss unknown Minor role -
1938 Opel Blitz 2,5-32 Minor role -
Ural 650 Minor role -
1943 Volkswagen Kübelwagen Typ 82 Minor role
Where Hands Touch Also Known As
16 alternative titles, including “Onde as Mãos Tocam” and “Cuando el amor te toca”.
- Also known as
-
- Onde as Mãos Tocam
- Cuando el amor te toca
- Където се докосват ръцете
- Где соприкасаются руки
- Miłość w trudnych czasach
- 웨어 핸즈 터치
- Amor em Tempos de Ódio
- Kur saskaras rokas
- איפה שהיד נוגעת
- Kde se dotýkají ruce
- Quando le mani si sfiorano
- Zor Zamanlarda Aşk
+4 more Show fewer
- 触碰的双手
- Védelmező kezek
- Де торкаються руки
- 16歳、戦火の恋
Seen Where Hands Touch?
Movies Like Where Hands Touch
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Lore, Death in Love and Hitler’s Children.
Where Hands Touch FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Where Hands Touch, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Where Hands Touch?
Where Hands Touch runs 2 hours 2 minutes (122 minutes).
When was Where Hands Touch released?
Where Hands Touch was released on September 14, 2018.
Who directed Where Hands Touch?
Where Hands Touch was directed by Amma Asante.
More films by Amma Asante Who is in the cast of Where Hands Touch?
Where Hands Touch stars Amandla Stenberg as Leyna, George MacKay as Lutz and Abbie Cornish as Kerstin, among 14 credited actors.
How much did Where Hands Touch make at the box office?
Where Hands Touch grossed $128,269 worldwide ($67,743 domestic, $60,526 international).
How is Where Hands Touch rated?
Where Hands Touch has 6.6/10 on IMDb, 43% on Rotten Tomatoes, 44 on Metacritic and 79% on TMDB.
Does Where Hands Touch have a post-credit scene?
No. Where Hands Touch has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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