Eltern (2013)

Two working parents try to juggle job and child-rearing.

Director:

Robert Thalheim

Writers:

Jane Ainscough, Robert Thalheim

Stars:

Alex Brendemühl, Paraschiva Dragus, Maren Eggert

3 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Alex Brendemühl	...	Volker (as Àlex Brendemühl)
Paraschiva Dragus	...	Käthe
Maren Eggert	...	Julie
Moritz Grove	...	Regieassistent
Hubertus Hartmann	...	Professor
Daniela Holtz	...	Sigrid
Charly Hübner	...	Konrad
Horst Kotterba	...	Frauenarzt
Clara Lago	...	Isabel
Tilo Nest	...	Schauspieler
Jannis Niewöhner	...	Jonas
Christiane Paul	...	Christine
Emilia Pieske	...	Emma
Katharina Schmalenberg	...	Schauspielerin

Storyline

Two working parents try to juggle job and child-rearing.

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Plot Keywords:

child rearing | job taking a toll on private life | dramatist | physician | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

Official Site [Germany]

Country:

Germany

Language:

German

Release Date:

14 November 2013 (Germany)

Also Known As:

Papa est en congé parental

Filming Locations:

Berlin, Germany

Company Credits

Production Co:

23/5 Filmproduktion GmbH, Kundschafter Filmproduktion, Südwestrundfunk (SWR)

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

Features Verbotene Liebe: Zum Nachtisch: Versöhnung (2012)

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Soundtracks

Alles was ich will (ist nur die Regierung stürzen)
Performed by Die Goldenen Zitronen
Written and composed by Carol Gaier
Courtesy of Sturmflut Musikverlag

User Reviews

It's a family affair

On the DVD box here is a press quote stating that this is "the best German comedy of the year". And it's classified by IMDb as a comedy. Although this is only true in the traditional Greek sense of "dramatic play", because it's about as hilarious as an amputation. Not in the sense that it tries to be funny but isn't, but in that it was never intended to be funny.

The movie's accolade is that it's a fairly realistic portrayal of a modern family. Both parents are working (or trying to work) and have to compromise between professional and family life. The wife actually has decided to pursue her career and, like a 1950ies dad in reverse, has to face the music that she has lost touch with her children. The husband is doing great as a father, but misses having a professional life of his own.

The couple has hired an au pair so that the husband (Charly Hübner) can take off time from the kids. Typically for the somewhat cumbersome style of the director, Robert Thalheim, the parents work as medical doctor and theatre director -- this is the type of movie where everyone has dream jobs, lives in designer vintage flats and never worries about money. However the au pair has problems of her own so that she can't take care of the children. (Equally, this is the type of movie where the parents concern themselves with the au pair's problems rather than parting ways with her). The hidden rifts and tears between the couple are beginning to show -- will they be able to carry on as a family? The movie is interesting and has great actors, which are able to compensate for the slightly histrionic and pompous style of the director. It would have been refreshing if the au pair would have been more of an antipode to the parents, maybe a lazy, conceited, selfish cow who sends the well-laid plans of our modern-day dream couple to wrack and ruin.

Just don't expect a comedy.