Art
ELTERN by Robert Thalheim
Family Drama (99 minutes)
In his new film German director Robert Thalheim portrays the chaotic life of a couple with two children Emma (Emilia Pieske) 5 and Käthe (Paraschiva Dragus) 10, over a week time. Konrad (Charly Hübner), who had been raising his children, is going back to being a freelancer and to direct a play at the theatre.
He is looking forward to it. However it is a stressful time as both children are on vacation. His wife Christine (Christiane Paul) is an anesthesit at an hospital. She cannot take time off and feels the pressure from her superiors. She is at time in her life when she is about to get a promotion and would also like to be there for her patients. She is not used to take care of the children, but to work a lot to support the family.
Eltern – Konrad and Christine are looking for an aupair – copyright Oliver Vaccaro- Kundschafter Filmproduktion Gmbh
The couple needs help and decide to hire an au-pair. When Isabel (Clara Lago) arrives from Argentina the problems accelerate. The couple does not only have to take care of their children but also of Isabel, who is pregnant. Soon chaos quickly takes over.
Who will take care of the children? Will both parents be able to keep their jobs? How will the couple survive this difficult moment? Will they manage to stay together?
Robert Thalheim shows so well the problem of modern family life. He shows how a couple in his forties tries to balance career and family life, but feels the constant pressure to succeed, yet not always knowing how to cope. Thalheim got interested in making a film about being a parent when he became a dad. He wanted to show the difficulty parents face daily to raise their children while trying to keep their relationship alive.
Eltern – the family on a walk Emma (Emilia Pieske), Konrad (Charly Hübner), Käthe (Paraschiva Dragus), Christine (Christiane Paul) and Au-pair Isabel © Oliver Vaccaro – Kundschafter Filmproduktion GmbH
The acting from both the adults and children is brilliant. Christine Paul and Charly Hübner had worked together on a previous film, “Im Schwitzkasten” (2006) and were happy to be back together they said in earlier interviews. They both wanted to work with Thalheim, a successful director.
The Berliner and once student of the Konrad Wolf School in Potsdam-Babelsberg had films which have been rewarded like “Netto” (2005), “Am Ende kommen Touristen” (2007) and “Westwind” (2011).
Eltern – Christine and Emma © Oliver Vaccaro – Kundschafter Filmproduktion GmbH
In addition to cinema Charly Hübner has been playing roles for the TV and this year he received the Baverian Prize for the best actor in films and as well the Goldene Kamera. You may have seen him play Alexander Buckow in Polizeiruf 100.
Christiane Paul received the Baverian Prize in 1995 and the Goldene Kamera three years later. In 2013 her new films are “Adlon” and “Unsere Mütter, unsere Väter.”
In all “Eltern” is a good film for all families with young children. It is serious, funny and emotional at times and if you are in this situation you will feel you are not alone!
Release dates: in Germany November 14th and in Switzerland November 28th.
