Escape Love

It's a hot summer's day, and Marie, Maximilian and Sofie are on a school trip (the motto: «Escape Room») when they are divided into teams: they find themselves in an empty swimming pool and have to find their way out together. Unfortunately, Marie and Sofie are quite at odds and are not at all in the mood to take part in the planned games – and then there's the topic of LOVE. While resistance stirs in Marie and Sofie, Maximilian's heart races with dreams of true love, envisioning a united, eternal togetherness. Marie, on the other hand, would never give herself up for another person under any circumstances – and Sofie has completely given up on love for the time being anyway. The hotter it gets, the higher the emotions boil. Yet, the nature of the puzzle remains utterly elusive. Not even the game master’s hints – sentimental love poems, couple's accessories, romantic date event tips – aid their quest much. There's no way around it: if they want to find the solution, they have to start with themselves.

In Escape Love, Elisabeth Pape delves into the intricate, often clichéd narratives surrounding love and relationships that are fueled by pop culture, social media, and the dating industry on a daily basis. Is it even possible in this day and age to believe in something as old-fashioned as «true love»?