| Credited cast: | |||
| Jacqueline Bisset | ... | Headmistress | |
| Hannah Taylor Gordon | ... | Irene | |
| Natalia Tena | ... | Vera | |
| Anna Maguire | ... | Melusine | |
| Anya Lahiri | ... | Rain | |
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Emily Pimm | ... | Blanka |
| Mary Nighy | ... | Hidalla | |
| Urbano Barberini | ... | Prince | |
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Silvia De Santis | ... | Gertrude |
| Eva Grimaldi | ... | Simba | |
| Enrico Lo Verso | ... | Inspector | |
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Galatea Ranzi | ... | Lady Helena |
| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
|
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Nikki Gummer | ... | (voice) |
| Tomás Hanák | ... | Hearse Driver | |
| Zuzana Maxa | ... | Lora (as Zuzana Ríhová) | |
"Laughing Water - Mine Ha-Ha" is based on "Mine-Haha or Physical Education of Young Girls" by German author Frank Wedekind (Spring Awakening, Lulu, Pandora's Vase). Thuringia, Germany, in the early 20th century. A group of young girls are brought up in a college withinh dark forests and gloomy lakes. Young Hidalla and her friends Irene, Vera, Blanka, Melusine and Rain are brought up in an isolated world: the girls don't know anything about live outside the college's high walls. At the age of 16, some of them start asking questions about their origins, their parents and the true purposes of the Headmistresses strict rules. When two of them disappear mysteriously, the initial fairytale atmosphere grows more and more eerie. Will the inspector from the nearby city discover the real purpose of the college? Will Hidalla be successful in her revolt against the destiny assigned to her by the Headmistress? Written by Federico Del Monte
This is quite a shocking movie and crude. Shows the real side of life...no fairy tales added; straight to the point. Shows what girls had to go through and the anonymity of themselves - not knowing who they are, how they got to be there or even where they are. The school is he only thing they know. They find refuge within themselves, they are each other's family. This movie shows us the consequences to each of the girls' actions. The love story is amazing. We see the deep love the girls have for each other and it being the only thing they have to hold on to. This movie shows us that love doesn't always last forever and that it doesn't overcome obstacles. Shows us the cruel lives that these girls had to live. Amazing movie.