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Lola on the Pea

Original title: Lola auf der Erbse
German title: Lola auf der Erbse
Germany, 2014

Director: Heinemann, Thomas
Production company: Super Neun
Age recommendation: 6 years and up
Length: 90 min.
Film genre: Feature film

Synopsis:
Together with her mother Loretta, Lola lives on a house boat called „The Pea.“ She has no other friends than the presumably crazy, old captain Solmsen. Since her father vanished into thin air, she has become more of an outsider at her school. She wants nothing to change until he comes back. That’s why she’s still wearing those much-too-small sneakers from the time he vanished. She doesn’t want to have her red hair cut, which she dyed previously, and the spot on her neck where her dad placed his last kiss, hasn’t been washed in a year. But suddenly two events tear Lola out of her lonely dream world. One: her mother has a new boyfriend. His name is Kurt and he’s a vet. Too bad he’s pretty nice, because an old dad cannot simply be exchanged and that’s why Lola does everything she can to get her mother and Kurt to split, which she almost accomplishes.

And then there is Rebin, the mysterious new student. Rebin is a Kurd and lives illegally in Germany with his parents. Mrs. Kuhbart [cow beard], the school’s headmaster, has on her own authority allowed Rebin to come to school. In the beginning, Rebin is suspicious, but by and by the two outsiders become friends. Rebin doesn’t have much free time: he has to deliver newspapers and helps his father clean Mr. Barkelt’s restaurant. Barkelt is the president of the Friends of Water Sports Club and wants to build a brand-new cove right in the snazzy marina, where The Pea is anchored.

When Rebin’s mother suddenly falls ill and cannot visit a regular physician, Rebin can’t attend school any more and has to take over his mom’s job as well. In order to help Rebin, Lola needs to ask her mom’s boy friend Kurt for help, even though she has just managed to get him out of the picture. He’s only a vet, but still the only doctor Lola knows whom she trusts. But Rebin’s fearful father, who catches them during a visit to the sick mother, does not accept any help and chases them out of the apartment. The next day, Rebin and his family are gone. The apartment appears to be deserted and Lola is convinced she has done everything the wrong way.

Yet, sometimes the world is bigger than you would think.

Comments:
Festival contact
Renate Zylla: rzylla@arcor.de

Marketing strategies:
Based on the children's book by Annette Mierswa, Stefanie Harjes

Festivals:
Kinderfilmfest Munich 2014, Giffoni 2014, Schlingel Chemnitz 2014, Chicago CFF 2014, Castellinaria Bellinzona 2014 (awarded), Vienna 2014, Oulu 2014, Just Film Tallinn 2014, Olympia Pyrgos 2014 ( Award), Ale Kino! Poznan 2014, Seattle 2015 (awarded), Europees Jeugdfilmfestival Vlaanderen Antwerp & Brugge 2015, Leeds YFF 2015, Stockholm Junior 2015, Cine-Jeune St. Quentin 2015, Kristiansand CFF 2015, Kinolub Krakow 2015, Nuevamirada ICFF Buenos Aires 2015, Kinodisea Bucharest 2015, Juniorfest Plzen 2015, Golden Elephant Hyderabad 2015, Kodomo IFF Okinawa 2015 (awarded), Kinodisea Arad/Romania 2016, Kineko CFF Tokyo 2017, China ICFF 2017

interview available

Study guide: German

Study guide: Greek

World sales address/es:
Beta Film (DE)

Sold to:
Farbfilm-Verleih (DE)
Bundesverband Jugend und Film (DE)