Toyland (2007) Spielzeugland (original title)

Director:

Jochen Alexander Freydank

Writers:

Jochen Alexander Freydank
Johann A. Bunners

Genre:

Short | Drama | War

Plot:

1942: what happens when a German kid believes that his Jewish neighbors are going to Toyland? A story about lies and guilt.

Plot Keywords:

Neighbor | German | Flashback | Jewish | Winter

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 23 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Julia Jäger	...	Marianne
Cedric Eich	...	Heinrich
Tamay Bulut Özvatan	...	David Silberstein
Torsten Michaelis	...	Herr Silbertein
Claudia Hübschmann	...	Frau Silberstein
David C. Bunners	...	Obersturmführer
Gregor Weber	...	SS-Mann Werner
Jürgen Trott	...	Schutzpolizist
Klaus-Jürgen Steinmann	...	Blockwart
Heike Reichenwallner	...	Nachbarin
Matthias Paul	...	Gestapo - Mann
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
William Woigk

Directed by
Jochen Alexander Freydank

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Johann A. Bunners
Jochen Alexander Freydank

Produced by
David C. Bunners	....	executive producer
Jochen Alexander Freydank	....	producer
Christoph Cico Nicolaisen	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Ingo Frenzel

Cinematography by
Christoph Cico Nicolaisen

Film Editing by
Anna Kappelmann

Casting by
Karen Wendland

Production Design by
Maja Zogg

Costume Design by
Katrin Berthold

Makeup Department
Anika Bothe	....	makeup artist
Christiane Buchholz	....	makeup artist
Kiky von Rebental	....	assistant makeup artist

Production Management
Corona Bellin	....	production manager
Henrike Feltner	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Thomas Bettkober	....	assistant director

Art Department
Stephanie Rass	....	prop maker

Sound Department
Martin Hertel	....	sound

Camera and Electrical Department
Marco Fischer	....	lighting technician
Roland Knitter	....	gaffer
Stefanie 'Peppa' Meissner	....	assistant camera

Production Companies

• Mephisto Film

Distributors

• Magnolia Pictures (2009) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Magnet Film (2007) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Cinemax (2011) (Hungary) (TV)
• Film Movement (2010) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Casting-Agentur Schubert  children's casting

Also Known As:

"Spielzeugland" - Germany (original title)

Runtime:

USA:13 min | Germany:13 min

Country:

Germany

Language:

German

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Germany:o.Al.

Filming Locations:

Berlin, Germany

Company:

Mephisto Film

Trivia:

This short film is available as a bonus on the Film Movement DVD of Storm (2009).

Good filmmakers don't need a feature to make powerful movies

"Toyland" is a film that works so brilliantly that it managed to be powerful, thought-provoking and even gut-wrenching than most Hollywood films that are 8 to 10 times longer. With sparse dialogue, director Jochen Alexander Freydank keeps us hooked throughout this superb short film.

Set during the Holocaust, a German woman frantically searches for her son, who might have decided to accompany his Jewish neighbors to a Nazi concentration camp because the Jewish family's young son and her son are best friends.

The film is elegantly shot and wonderfully acted. There is more poignancy and true emotion in this film than I have seen in most Hollywood films in recent times.

Director Freydank moves his story along, with us always wondering not only what comes next but how this is going to end. And then comes the denouement: A truly remarkable twist that says much about the human spirit. It is a moment that will break your heart while simultaneously make you smile.

If you have the chance to see this, and the other Oscar-nominated live action shorts, do yourself a favor and watch them. Believe me, it will be time much better spent than, say, on "New In Town" or most any other mainstream Hollywood film.