The Wind in Her Hands is a creative coming-of-age documentary running 1 hour, 20 minutes and 40 seconds, directed by German filmmaker Jonas Jérôme Knut Nellissen, who is also writer and producer with Christina Späth-Nellissen. Shot across France, the Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland, the film recounts the personal and sporting journey of a young athlete taking on Olympic windsurfing as an external challenge and, at the same time, an inner journey towards reconciliation with herself.
The protagonist, Elena Sandera, plays herself in an intimate, sincere account combining the sporting and psychological dimensions. At just 21, Elena decides to take up IQ Foil windsurfing, an Olympic sailing discipline, despite having no prior experience. As she pursues qualification, the film follows her through training, competitions and moments of introspection, in continuous dialogue with the force and unpredictability of wind and sea.
The narrative develops as a path of self-discovery and resilience, in which the athlete faces the ghosts of her past: trauma from sexual violence which resurfaces during athletic preparation. Control, discipline and ambition—fundamental elements of sporting life—also become tools of defence and personal liberation. Only when Elena stops fighting the wind and accepts her vulnerability does she find balance and strength, not only in sport but in life.
Through a poetic, contemplative visual language, The Wind in Her Hands reflects on the fine line between ambition and self-destruction, exploring the body as a place of memory and resistance. The film, with its strong feminist and coming-of-agevalue, stands out for its sensitive, immersive approach, supported by music from Felix Beck and narrative contributions by Sandra Trostel and Kai Sieverding.
Completed on 20 March 2025, the documentary was made with an independent budget of €15,000. It is the first film by director Jonas Nellissen, which maturely addresses complex themes such as growth, healing and the relationship between body, nature and identity.
Film Details
Title: The Wind in Her Hands
Original title: The Wind in Her Hands
Director: Jonas Jérôme Knut Nellissen
Production: Jonas Nellissen, Christina Späth-Nellissen
Country: Germany
Language: English, German
Running time: 1 hour 20 minutes 40 seconds
Genre: Documentary, Coming of Age, Drama, Feminist
Sport featured: Windsurfing (IQ Foil, Olympic discipline)
Protagonist(s): Elena Sandera, Henry Bloodworth, Ivana Imoli Sandera
Completion date: 20 March 2025
Premiere: [Not specified]
Distributor: [Not specified]
Shooting format: Digital, 1.85:1, colour
Director's first film: Yes
Student project: No