Philipp, a well-known theatre actor, is passionate about his work. His flourishing career takes him to several European cities. During a visit to Hamburg, he bumps into a man who claims to be his uncle. They get acquainted. Walter lived for over 40 years in Italy, where he was a circus artist. Now that he’s back in Germany, he’d like to see his brother again. But Philipp’s father doesn’t seem very keen to reconnect with this man whose past is full of murky family secrets. Back home in Vienna, Philipp decides to take in his enigmatic uncle for a while. This marks the start of a beautiful friendship and near-father/son relationship between the two men. The shine of Day is part of the growing docufiction trend. The directors based their story on the professional experiences of their two lead actors who in part play their real-life roles. Screened at the last Locarno festival where Walter Saavel won the award for best male actor, this generous, sincere and often touching film brings out the best in its characters.