New Tales of Franz: sequel to the successful film adaptation based on the children’s books by Christine Nöstlinger.
Plot and background
Franz (Jossi Jantschitsch) is a somewhat short ten-year-old boy from Vienna. Since his best friend Gabi (Nora Reidinger) quarrels incessantly with his best friend Eberhard (Leo Wacha), Franz, who likes the two of them right away, is caught between two stools. But he can’t split himself in two either and would prefer to spend the summer vacations without drama. When he hears his dad (Simon Schwarz) say that the strongest bond of friendship is the common enemy, the boy develops a master plan. Gabi has set herself the task of being a detective and catching a burglar who is up to no good in Vienna. And because Franz finds his overly strict neighbor Mrs. Berger (Maria Bill) highly suspicious anyway, Gabi, Franz and Eberhard go on a highly secret mission together. But when Franz’s not quite solid suspicions are revealed and other unexpected secrets come to light, the trio must somehow maneuver their way out of the mess. But they wouldn’t be true friends if they didn’t succeed. And maybe they’ll even catch the real burglar in the process.
“New Tales of Franz” – background, cast, theatrical release
After “Stories of Franz” enjoyed great success at the box office in 2022 and even made it among the highest-attended Austrian theatrical films of the year, director and LOLA award winner Johannes Schmid and screenwriter Sarah Wassermair are now bringing the second part of the popular children’s book adaptation to theaters with “New Stories of Franz.” The films are based on the Austrian book series of the same name by Christine Nöstlinger, who is one of the most successful children’s and young adult authors of the present day. Published between 1984 and 2011, the volumes about the adventures of blond-haired Franz have so far reached a circulation of 2.5 million in German-speaking countries and have been translated into more than 30 languages.
As in the first part, the main roles are again played by Jossi Jantschitsch as Franz, Nora Reidinger as Gabi and Leo Wacha as Eberhard. As Franz’s parents, Ursula Strauss (“Schnell ermittelt”) and Simon Schwarz (“Rehragout-Rendezvous”) were again in front of the camera, while Maria Bill plays the strict Mrs. Berger. Austrian cabaret artist, TV and radio presenter Christoph Grissemann appears in a supporting role.
With “Neue Geschichten vom Franz,” a funny big-screen adventure for the whole family with no age restriction will start in German and Austrian cinemas on September 7, 2023.
