Directed by:
Markus GollerCinematography:
Ueli SteigerComposer:
Andrej MelitaCast:
David Kross, Frederick Lau, Emilia Schüle, David Berton, Annette Frier, Oscar Ortega Sánchez, Ludger Pistor, Uwe Rohde, Anneke Kim Sarnau, Axel Stein (more)Plots(1)
Ben (Frederick Lau) and his brother Barnabas (David Kross) have been very close ever since Ben can remember. Barnabas, also known as "Simpel", is 22, but has the mental capacity of a 3-year old. Even though Simpel can be really irritating, life without him is for Ben absolutely unimaginable. When their mother dies unexpectedly, the authorities want to put Simpel in a home. To escape this fate, the brothers flee, setting out on a crazy odyssey across North Germany until they reach Hamburg and until Ben realizes: he has to find their father David (Devid Striesow). Highly emotional and at the same time very funny, Simpel portrays an unusual pair of brothers whom nothing can separate. (Filmfest Hamburg)
(more)Reviews (1)
A solid German drama about a handicapped brother, which milks your emotions from the beginning to the end. The premise is nothing new, but if you grow fond of the two brothers and keep hoping for a happy ending the entire time, you’re going to have a great time watching this. An exemplary European drama with exactly the kind of emotions a quality film should arouse, including wonderful acting performances naturally led by David Kross, who relished his role of the handicapped guy and delivered a really convincing performance. The Germans really deserve praise for this film. It’s been a while since I saw such a realistic drama that made me feel like I was living through it.
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