April 28, 2026
FILM: LATE SHIFT
WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY: PETRA BIONDINA VOLPE
STARRING: LEONIE BENESCH, SONJA RIESEN, ALIREZA BAYRAM
RATING: 3 ½ out of 4 stars
By Dan Pal
The success of HBO Max’s The Pitt, which offers an intense, no holds barred look at a hospital emergency room, might drive others, like me, to check out Late Shift. It’s a film from Switzerland which was chosen by the country to qualify for the Best International Oscar earlier this year. While it didn’t make the final five nominees, it was definitely deserving. Written and directed by Petra Biondina Volpe, it provides an unflinching look at a nurse’s shift dealing with an array of patients and issues after they’ve been admitted. Leonie Benesch stars as Floria and is exceedingly good in the role as we watch the character go from complete professionalism to an emotional breaking point.
The first shots of the film are of blue hospital scrubs as they make their way back from a cleaning. It’s clear that this assembly line keeps revolving day in and day out just like patients come in and out for treatment. We then meet Floria who steps into her uniform and quickly begins her shift. Initial scenes with her suggest she is highly efficient and dedicated to her job and patients. Her third-floor ward is completely filled and the hospital is short-staffed of nurses. In what feels like real time, but actually stretches over several hours, Floria will balance a wide range of patients with varying needs while dealing with constant phone calls, disgruntled demands, and a death.
All the while cameras follow Benesch as Floria as she moves from patient to patient and room to room. The feeling created allows viewers to experience her constant motion and balancing of various tasks. She preps shots, cleans counters, and scolds one patient for smoking while on oxygen. The floor seems almost barren of doctors and support staff. It’s appropriately chilling to watch while making Floria’s job seem all the more crucial and valuable. For the most part, she’s in charge.
We don’t learn a lot about Floria’s life outside the hospital, except that she was off the previous day and spent it with her daughter. It’s not necessary to learn more because, like the staff on The Pitt, how she reacts to her patients and the few co-workers she has (including a student) reveals much about who she is. There’s an intensity to Benesch’s performance too which reflects Floria’s stoicism, caring nature, dedication, and unsurprising moments of frustration. We can also see when guilt sets in for what she perceives to be mistakes she committed. Eventually she does reach a breaking point and when it does it feels completely earned.
Volpe’s script builds to this climax for sure. Music also accompanies the shift and beautifully offers a slow rise in tension. However, none of it ever feels forced or overly dramatic. When Floria does break we almost want to applaud one of her actions. Volpe allows for a few moments of tension relief and a conclusion that, like a day at The Pitt, will end like any other only to be followed by the next one, which we’ll never see but we’re glad to have been there for Floria throughout this shift.
What’s so great about the film too is that it provides a wide-eyed view of what our nurses go through in the course of a day. It has deep empathy for them. Post script details note the growing shortages of nurses in Switzerland and in the world in general. This film should make one appreciate their nurses more than ever.
Late Shift is now available to rent/purchase on Amazon Prime.
FILM: LATE SHIFT
WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY: PETRA BIONDINA VOLPE
STARRING: LEONIE BENESCH, SONJA RIESEN, ALIREZA BAYRAM
RATING: 3 ½ out of 4 stars
By Dan Pal
The success of HBO Max’s The Pitt, which offers an intense, no holds barred look at a hospital emergency room, might drive others, like me, to check out Late Shift. It’s a film from Switzerland which was chosen by the country to qualify for the Best International Oscar earlier this year. While it didn’t make the final five nominees, it was definitely deserving. Written and directed by Petra Biondina Volpe, it provides an unflinching look at a nurse’s shift dealing with an array of patients and issues after they’ve been admitted. Leonie Benesch stars as Floria and is exceedingly good in the role as we watch the character go from complete professionalism to an emotional breaking point.
The first shots of the film are of blue hospital scrubs as they make their way back from a cleaning. It’s clear that this assembly line keeps revolving day in and day out just like patients come in and out for treatment. We then meet Floria who steps into her uniform and quickly begins her shift. Initial scenes with her suggest she is highly efficient and dedicated to her job and patients. Her third-floor ward is completely filled and the hospital is short-staffed of nurses. In what feels like real time, but actually stretches over several hours, Floria will balance a wide range of patients with varying needs while dealing with constant phone calls, disgruntled demands, and a death.
All the while cameras follow Benesch as Floria as she moves from patient to patient and room to room. The feeling created allows viewers to experience her constant motion and balancing of various tasks. She preps shots, cleans counters, and scolds one patient for smoking while on oxygen. The floor seems almost barren of doctors and support staff. It’s appropriately chilling to watch while making Floria’s job seem all the more crucial and valuable. For the most part, she’s in charge.
We don’t learn a lot about Floria’s life outside the hospital, except that she was off the previous day and spent it with her daughter. It’s not necessary to learn more because, like the staff on The Pitt, how she reacts to her patients and the few co-workers she has (including a student) reveals much about who she is. There’s an intensity to Benesch’s performance too which reflects Floria’s stoicism, caring nature, dedication, and unsurprising moments of frustration. We can also see when guilt sets in for what she perceives to be mistakes she committed. Eventually she does reach a breaking point and when it does it feels completely earned.
Volpe’s script builds to this climax for sure. Music also accompanies the shift and beautifully offers a slow rise in tension. However, none of it ever feels forced or overly dramatic. When Floria does break we almost want to applaud one of her actions. Volpe allows for a few moments of tension relief and a conclusion that, like a day at The Pitt, will end like any other only to be followed by the next one, which we’ll never see but we’re glad to have been there for Floria throughout this shift.
What’s so great about the film too is that it provides a wide-eyed view of what our nurses go through in the course of a day. It has deep empathy for them. Post script details note the growing shortages of nurses in Switzerland and in the world in general. This film should make one appreciate their nurses more than ever.
Late Shift is now available to rent/purchase on Amazon Prime.