Lauras Stern (2004)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Directors:

Piet De Rycker
Thilo Rothkirch

Writers:

Klaus Baumgart (writer)
Piet De Rycker (story)

Release Date:

19 September 2004 (Germany)

Genre:

Animation | Family

Plot:

An adolescent girl and her toddler brother, find a star that has actually fallen to earth, that turns out to be living being...complete with cosmic powers

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Céline Vogt	...	Laura (voice) (as Celine Vogt)
Sandro Iannotta	...	Tommy (voice)
Maximilian Artajo	...	Max (voice)
Brit Gülland	...	Mama (voice) (as Britt Güland)
Heinrich Schafmeister	...	Papa (voice)
Mirco Nontschew	...	Mechanische Katze / Bär (voice)
Martin Reinl	...	Mini Hase (voice)
Eva Mattes	...	Sonne (voice)
Peter Fitz	...	Mond (voice)
Mogens von Gadow	...	Hausmeister (voice)
Hildegard Krekel	...	Putzfrau (voice)
Adrian Wilms	...	Harry (voice)
Carolin von der Groeben	...	Harrys Bande (voice)
Adrian Killian	...	Harrys Bande (voice)
Tobias Klausmann	...	Harrys Bande (voice)

Also Known As:

Laura's Star (International: English title)

Runtime:

Germany:75 min | UK:80 min

Country:

Germany

Language:

German

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Certification:

Netherlands:AL | Portugal:M/4 | Germany:o.Al. | UK:U

Company:

Rothkirch Cartoon Film

Quotes:

[first lines]
Laura: [sighs and presses against her bedroom window] Ugh. Mom, Dad, where's the apple tree?
Mother: Oh, Laura, sweetheart. Has your spacecraft survived the move in one piece? And your flight? Come on, tell us a bit about it.
Laura: Mm. It was all a bit much, if you don't mind me saying. During our landing, we drifted slightly off course, as you all know. Then I opened my curtains and hard a good look around, and what did I see? My lovely apple tree's not there, nor my friends. The meadow has also disappeared and the birdhouse, my seesaw, my flowers and my absolutely favorite place in the hill, and...
[...]

Movie Connections:

References Der kleine Eisbär - Neue Abenteuer, neue Freunde (2002) (V)

Soundtrack:

Stay

Shades of Miyazaki

Laura's Star is an extremely amiable children's movie full of imagination and charm. Something tells me Hayao Miyazaki may have been an influence on De Rycker and Rothkirch, since Laura's Stern (or Laura's Star) carries with it shades of Spirited Away, Kiki's Delivery Service and, to a slightly lesser degree, My Neighbour Totoro. I could be wrong of course, but it's easy to draw this comparison simply judging from the aesthetics and the likable narrative of this film and, if anything, it's meant as a compliment. Still, there's a hint of triumphalism here in that I'm glad to see one of my favourite film-makers having a bearing on other directors and animators, as well they should.

In any case, I have absolutely no hesitation recommending Laura's Star to anyone with young children - or for that matter people like myself who just happen to have a weakness for all things cutesy and good-natured.