Rocca changes the world: Family film and modern “Pippi Longstocking” interpretation about the courageous girl Rocca who turns everything upside down, not only at her new school.
Plot and background
Eleven-year-old Rocca (Luna Maxeiner) is a real whirlwind and always in a good mood. Because her father (Volker Bruch) is an astronaut on the International Space Station (ISS) and her mother died when Rocca was born, the curious chaotic girl comes to stay with her grandmother in Hamburg. But she soon gets fed up with the chaos. When Rocca then brings the squirrel Klitschko with her, an accident happens and the grandmother ends up in hospital with a concussion. Rocca is left to fend for herself.
In Hamburg, she also goes to a normal school for the first time. There, of course, Rocca gets everything mixed up. She bravely takes on the bullies in the class. The headmaster doesn’t think much of the newcomer – a child needs a legal guardian, and in Rocca’s case they are few and far between. The headmaster wants to call in the authorities. The teacher Frau Behrendt (Mina Tander) stands up for Rocca. And besides, Rocca has found a new friend in Hamburg: the homeless Caspar (Fahri Yardim).
“Rocca changes the world” – background
In her feature film debut, Katja Benrath tells an adventurous story for the whole family based on the screenplay by Hilly Martinek (“Honig im Kopf”), which is based on one of the great classics of children’s films: “Pippi Longstocking”. Because just like the great role model, the courageous Rocca doesn’t let anyone talk her into anything or even scare her. For her, justice always comes first.
The good-hearted chaotic character is played by young actress Luna Maxeiner (Sara Winter from “Red Ribbon Club”), who leads a large ensemble of German actors. The cast includes not only “Babylon Berlin” star Volker Bruch, but also comedian and actor Fahri Yardim (“Dogs of Berlin”). The teacher Frau Behrendt is played by Mina Tander (“Antonio, ihm schmeckt’s nicht!”). And the great Detlev Buck (“Magical Mystery”) as well as comedian Cordula Stratmann (“SMS für dich”) also drop by in guest roles when Rocca messes things up.
At the German Film Awards 2019, “Rocca verändert die Welt” was named best children’s film.
