The tenth summer
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| Original title | The tenth summer |
| Country of production | Germany |
| original language | German |
| Publishing year | 2003 |
| length | 96 minutes |
| Age rating | FSK 6 |
| Rod | |
| Director | Jörg Grünler |
| script | Dieter Bongartz |
| production |
Elke Ried , Regina Ziegler |
| music | Mick Builder |
| camera | Daniel Koppelkamm |
| cut | Jörg Baumeister |
| occupation | |
| |
The tenth summer (international title: The Tenth Summer ) is a German children's film from 2003. The literary film adaptation by director Jörg Grünler , based on the children's novel Der tenth Sommer des Kalli Spielplatz by Dieter Bongartz , premiered at the Children's Film Festival of the Berlinale in February 2003 .
action
Subject
In the early 1960s, 9-year-old Kalli experienced the summer holidays in a strongly Catholic workers' settlement on the left Lower Rhine . For the residents, this manageable world is only disturbed by the presence of Mrs. Hilfers, who lives without a husband, and her two big daughters, who are viewed with suspicion by all neighbors. But it is precisely these three "ladies" who help Kalli to hide a monkey he has been given so that he and his friends can play with it for a whole summer.
introduction
1960, in the small provincial town of Dülken on the left Lower Rhine: 9-year-old Kalli is celebrating his birthday and the summer holidays are approaching. Kalli lives with his older sister Ilona, his father Karl Spielplatz and his mother Elvira Spielplatz in the working-class district of Külleskap . His father was shot in the war, has not been able to move his left arm properly since then and has a limp on top of that. He can no longer practice his old job of roofing and now he works as an insurance agent.
Bulk
On Saturday afternoon, before the usual bath, Kalli goes to confession . In doing so, he pleads guilty to all things that he has learned to be sins. Finally, he remembered something that he had also done. For fun he had thrown stones at the shutters of some houses. Among other things, also with the pastor. When Kalli comes home again later, the priest told his mother about this - despite the confessional secrecy - whereupon she spanked her boy's bottom.
The next day, Kalli wants to start a zoo with his friends Polli and Walter. But apart from a few insects in a mason jar, this “zoo” has nothing to show in the end. But Polli has an idea. His father has a monkey and a golden pheasant at home . Finally Kalli get the Vervet of Polli's father paid, the pheasant but does not advance out. Now the three boys have a real attraction for their zoo, but at the same time also a problem. You have to hide the little "Kappu" from the adults in the basement. A curious neighbor in particular constantly watches what is happening in the street. And so you don't miss the fact that Kalli, who is always dubious, is up to something.
When “Kappu” is almost discovered by Kalli's mother and this neighbor in the cellar, the boys help Franzi, the neighbor's daughter. Thereupon Franzi is accepted into the boy gang; Moreover, Kalli had had a crush on Franzi for a while. But where should they put the monkey now? Ultimately, however, they will find a solution for this too. Ms. Hilfers takes care of “Kappu”. Ms. Hilfers lives without a partner together with her two big daughters in Kalli's neighborhood. The three cheerful women, always in tip-top condition, are very suspicious of the people in the strictly Catholic settlement, because total strangers come and go in their apartment at night. Kalli and his friends had also been infected by the general distrust, but after the three women helped them, they trust them more and more.
Now nothing stands in the way of Kallis happy tenth summer. Over the next few weeks, the children spend lovely hours with the monkey during the day and in the evening they bring it to Mrs. Hilfers. But bad news soon hits the Spielplatz family. Karl Spielplatz had settled an insurance claim of an acquaintance without checking the exact circumstances of the alleged claim (fire damage to a Persian carpet ). The insurance company found out about the fraud committed and is now demanding DM 3000 back from Karl Spielplatz for the unjustifiably paid amount, otherwise Spielplatz would lose his job.
Since the family has hardly any money, Kalli's father turns to Mrs. Hilfers, who lends him the money. At the same time, however, Kalli observes how he comes out of Mrs. Hilfers' apartment and holds her tightly in his arms. Kalli is desperate because he thinks his father might leave his family. Finally the mother also suspects and confronts the suspicious Ms. Hilfers. In the end, however, the misunderstanding can be cleared up and “Die Hilfers” put in a somewhat better light.
Enough
But the next disaster is already approaching. “Kappu” suffered from a lung disease after a severe thunderstorm that the children got into with him. Although the vet can save the monkey, he makes it clear to them that such an exotic animal needs a warmer climate, which in these latitudes could only be found in a zoo or animal park.
With “Kappu”, Kalli and his friends give a unique circus performance in front of the entire Külleskap neighborhood. Then, with a heavy heart, Kalli hands the monkey over to a Mönchengladbach zoo. And “Mrs. Hilfers and her daughters” will also disappear forever from Kalli's life after this summer, as they are moving away from the settlement.
analysis
construction
The plot is explained by an off- narrator, mostly when there is a change in the life of the main character Kalli Spielplatz. The events are mostly described from his point of view, with the reality in the film being mixed with the daydream fantasies of "King Kalli" in some places.
In addition to the dream sequences, the film conveys a realistic picture of the living conditions in a small, strictly Catholic workers' settlement at the beginning of the 1960s, in which Kalli's mother, who is Protestant, is already seen by some people as a kind of foreign body. Quotation from the neighbor: "You are Protestant, Ms. Playground, and you don't take all of this seriously enough!"
people
But the real disruptive factor in the manageable, closed world of the 1960s are Ms. Hilfers and her daughters. Kalli has taken over the adults' distrust of the three "ladies" and even sees them as witches in his fantasy . After he got to know the three better, they become his three wise elves . The fact that at least the mother is engaged in prostitution is speculated by the adults in the film and also hinted at by short scenes or quotations, but not definitely clarified.
Kalli is a 9 year old boy who has to find his way in the adult world. He also learns to go his own way with corporal punishment , which was still completely common at the time. Because he realizes that even adults don't always behave correctly. Be it the pastor who does not keep the secret of confession or his father who wants to keep a secret for himself and does not honestly explain to his wife where he borrowed the money from.
Margin notes
- The novelist and screenwriter Dieter Bongartz , who was born and raised in Dülken , can be seen at the very end of the film in the role of the zoo car driver from Mönchengladbach.
- The film was shot in the summer of 2002. The premiere of the film took place on February 9, 2003 as part of the Berlinale Children's Film Festival (opening film). The German theatrical release was on September 4, 2003, later around 17,000 viewers were reported.
- The DVD The Tenth Summer was released on June 1, 2006 and the German television premiere followed just a few days later, on June 5, 2006 (Whit Monday) at lunchtime on ZDF .
Reviews
“The story of the young Kalli, who has to find his way in the adult world, is based on a youth novel by the well-known Cologne author Dieter Bongartz. Director Jörg Grünler ('Krücke') implemented it carefully, touchingly and with great attention to detail. ”
Www.tvtv.de
“Grünler takes up serious issues such as intolerance with a light hand, without annoying with a raised index finger. A timeless and touching film about the adventure of growing up - not just for kids. ”
TV feature film
“The children's tragic comedy based on Dieter Bongartz is children's cinema at its finest: sensitively played, lovingly furnished and also worth seeing for adults.”
TV TODAY
"Similar to his cinema debut 'Krücke', the TV director Jörg Grünler also strikes sparks from the discrepancy between adult facts and child perception in 'Der tehnte Sommer'."
Filmportal.de
“Director Jörg Grünler draws this family story sensitively and with a love of detail.”
Rhein-Zeitung online
Awards
Jörg Grünler received an award at the International Family Film Festival in Valencia, California, USA. The film was also nominated at the Oulu International Children's Film Festival in Finland.
Web links
- The summer tenth in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- The tenth summer at filmportal.de
- Interview with Dieter Bongartz about the tenth summer
- Film review with age recommendation
Individual evidence
- ↑ The tenth summer. 2003, accessed August 20, 2015 .
- ↑ Manfred Baum: A look back into the Dülken of the 60s. Retrieved August 20, 2015 .