Moritz In Der Litfassäule (1984)

Genres - Comedy  |   Run Time - 85 min.  |   Countries - United States  |   MPAA Rating - NR
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Synopsis by Eleanor Mannikka

In this entertaining slice of life as lived by the very young, little Moritz (Dirk Müller) runs away from home to confront his whimsical alter ego and find some reassurance from unexpected quarters. Moritz has not been getting very good grades in school, and far from being able to face his parents with the truth, he is stymied by a father whose habit is to put up a "Do Not Disturb" warning on his closed study door. Left with little choice in the matter, the dejected Moritz packs up a few things and goes to hide in a Litfassäule. (The Litfassäule are hollow pillars on the street corners that display ads about activities around town, and the street sweepers store their brooms and equipment in their hollow interiors.) When Moritz gets settled with his blanket and clothing bag inside the pillar, up pops an animated cat - who plays the foil to Moritz so astutely that it eventually becomes clear he is the little boy's creation. The plot thickens, as the runaway meets a young girl from a traveling circus - who is the cat in another form! Protected by a friendly street sweeper, Moritz is on his way to learning even more about himself and the society around him. Director and writer Rolf Losansky has created an excellent adaptation of a children's book by Christa Kozik in this filmed version of Moritz' story.

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Keywords

imaginary-friend, imagination, runaway [from home]