Germany 2019
Opening June 6, 2019

Directed by: Robert Thalheim
Writing credits: Peer Klehmet, Robert Thalheim
Principal actors: Ilyes Moutaoukkil, Lorenzo Germeno, Manuel Santos Gelke

Tim (Ilyes Moutaoukkil) lives alone with his mother who works in a grocery store. She drives him to his new boarding school, where he has won an important scholarship. Soon his roommate, Willi (Lorenzo Germeno), arrives—by plane. His nickname Klößchen (which means meatball in German) derives from his rather plump figure. He wears a suit and is less than enthusiastic to share a room with someone “middle class.” This antagonism quickly changes to friendship when Klößchen’s father Hermann Sauerlich is kidnapped. The two boys rush to Klößchen’s grieving mother, Erna, who is accompanied by her “energy people,” blind Raimundo and Amanda. Tim and Klößchen soon team up with fellow students Karl (Manual Santos Gelke) and Gaby (Emma-Louise Schimpf) to form their own investigative team now called TKKG. Karl is a nerdy genius on the computer and invites them up into the school attic to his secret laboratory. Gaby plays saxophone in the school orchestra. Her father, Chief of Police Glockner, heads the investigation and is sure that “it was the gardener.” This relationship gives her a useful link to inside information. Slowly the case unfolds to include a statue of pure gold, which Hermann had brought back from the Shaolin people in China. Tim begins to learn Shaolin Kung-Fu, and even disguises himself as a girl in order to gain evidence.

TKKG is my vote for best-kids’-film-of-the-year – so far – a detective story for kids, featuring the most talented young actors whom we will certainly see again soon! The action speeds along; the settings are grand and the colors most beautiful. Who is responsible for this kidnapping and for the stealing of the golden statue? Naturally TKKG finds the offender, but not before wiggling through dangerous circumstances and learning more about each other. This is a film for the whole family, especially for youngsters 8-13 years old. (Becky T.)