Das Gewisse Etwas — in Cinemas Soon!
"Das gewisse Etwas" — a German remake of the successful French movie "Was ist schon normal?" (Un p'tit truc en plus) from 2024. The movie follows Alex (Max von der Groeben) & Karlo (Florian Lukas) and a group of disabled young adults and their carers going on their annual summer vacation.
• the following review will contain spoilers •
Right at the start, we're introduced to Alex & Karlo by seeing them rob a jeweller. Among the hectics of them needing to leave before the police catches them, it is already noticeable that Alex is a good person at heart; their hostages are a couple and he tosses them an engagement ring to show them that he supports their love.
Before leaving the scene of crime, Alex mistakenly ‒ or so one would think ‒ takes his mask off, which the woman notices. Later on in the story it is clear the woman was grateful for the tossing of the engagement ring, as she did not say anything when she recognised him in a supermarket.
As Karlo & Alex run away from the jeweller to change their clothes, police runs past them. They tell them the suspects (themselves) ran in a different direction and so manage to shake them off for the time being.
At the same time, a group of disabled young adults and their carers is about to start their annual trip. Still waiting for one person called Otto, they haven't left yet …
As Karlo & Alex lead the police in the wrong direction, they're standing in front of the group's travel coach. One of the careers named Polly (Mala Emde) comes up to them and mistakes Alex for Otto. Without much thinking, both join the group on the coach ‒ Karlo claims he's "Otto's" carer ‒ and the trip begins. The actual Otto accidentally went on a party trip with some people and had the best time.
Arriving at their vacation home, the group is greeted by the owner. He informs Polly that rent would increase next summer. Of course these weren't news she wanted to hear, as the trip had already cut the budget to zero.
To not blow their cover, Alex tries his best to fit in. Karlo is not the most excited to be there, however the group grows closer to his heart, at least a little bit. They grow closer and at one point, the group even discovers that Alex is not actually Otto and they don't tell on him. He also develops a crush on Polly, which becomes more and more obvious.
Polly's boyfriend got a job offer in Canada and it's not easy for her to tell the group she is considering going with him. She keeps putting off telling the group. Her boyfriend doesn't have much patience left, comes to surprise her and confronts Polly in front of the group. This ends up in them eventually breaking up and her asking him to leave again. Not feeling the best about this, she still continues to do her job with her whole heart.
The group gets convinced to try out new activities and decides on river rafting. The owner unfortunately didn't consider disabled people capable. Karlo takes him aside and tries to convince him (in a rather aggressive manner). Suddenly, they hear police sirens and him and Alex start running. Alex stops and lets himself get arrested even though Karlo wants to continue running. It becomes clear that Karlo is Alex's dad and that the latter always got dragged into situations with him.
Fast forward, Alex has his court hearing and ‒hold on‒ the whole group suddenly bursts into the room. Although they don't defend what he did, they recall the best memories with him and agree that he is a good person.
The movie ends with the group getting together at their vacation home during Christmas time. Everyone is there, including Polly and Alex (with an ankle monitor). Someone donated money so Polly could buy it off the owner. Even Karlo, accompanied by two police officers, joins them. Polly and Alex are noticeably closer than before and Alex doesn't seem too hold much of a grudge against his dad.
"Das gewisse Etwas," with disabled people right in the center of the plot and not being ignored, a fun and heartfelt comedy for everyone!
Starting September 3rd, you can see the movie in cinemas yourself — we would definitely recommend to go and check it out!
REVIEW BY
Nora
Throughout 2022 and the beginning of 2023 I started to photograph with my phone at shows I went to, in April of 2023 I got to photograph with my camera at a show for the first time and have been doing it since. I love that it´s possible to combine (live) music and photography!
Excited to see what the future will bring!
