Family Movie: Emil und die Detektive

The story follows Emil, whose single-father's new job as a sales representative is in jeopardy after causing an accident and losing his licence. While his father is in hospital, Emil is supposed to spend the summer holidays with Pastor Hummel, a sister of his homeroom teacher. Emil has heard from a friend that you can get anything in Berlin, even a fake driver's license. He secretly decides to get one for his father, emptying their “future fund” with money he has collected from letters his mother had sent after leaving the family and settling down in Canada. On the train ride to Berlin, he is robbed by smooth-talking thief Max Grundeis.

Refusing to accept defeat, Emil teams up with a group of sharp-witted, local kids and embarks on a fast-paced chase across the capital, turning the city into the playground for an improvised detective operation.

111 min., recommended for ages 8 and up, German with Engl. subtitles

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Host or Publisher Goethe-Institut Toronto