In 1924, Oskar Matzerath is born in the Free City of Danzig. At age three, he falls down a flight of stairs and stops growing. In 1939, World War II breaks out.
Directed by Volker Schlöndorff
puberty
adultery
lolita
suicide
based on novel or book
nazi
dwarf
gdansk, poland
circus
toxication
germany
married couple
pregnancy
world war ii
family's daily life
dark comedy
suffocation
lone wolf
kaschubia
synagogue
hitler youth
coming of age
family feud
red army
prenatal
1920s
1940s
new german cinema
1930s
invasion of normandy
war drama
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Letterboxd
3.7 / 5
Where to Watch
Cast
Mario Adorf
Alfred Matzerath
Angela Winkler
Agnes Matzerath
David Bennent
Oskar Matzerath
Katharina Thalbach
Maria Matzerath
Daniel Olbrychski
Jan Bronski
Tina Engel
Young Anna Koljaiczek
Berta Drews
Anna Koljaiczek
Andréa Ferréol
Lina Greff
Heinz Bennent
Greff
Ilse Pagé
Gretchen Scheffler
Käte Jaenicke
Mother Truczinski
Otto Sander
Meyn
Crew
Volker Schlöndorff
Director
Jean-Claude Carrière
Screenplay
Volker Schlöndorff
Screenplay
Maurice Jarre
Original Music Composer
Igor Luther
Director of Photography
Anatole Dauman
Producer
Günter Grass
Author
Nikos Perakis
Production Design
Nikos Perakis
Art Direction
Popular Reviews
55 reviews
Paul Hugo
9.0★ · 04/13/26
A surreal, biting portrait of history through a child who refuses to grow up.
A surreal, biting portrait of history through a child who refuses to grow up.
margaret
1.0★ · 04/12/26
no lie, this is the worst movie i have ever seen period ( remind me )
no lie, this is the worst movie i have ever seen period ( remind me )
Ibrahim
7.5★ · 04/06/26
the story feels different yet similar? like you have seen something related to this but with a twist
the idea of the kid not growing up is not utilized well in most situations, like it could've been way better
the exploration of self awareness, sexuality, identity is amongst multiple themes running here, which is okay ig
my favorite aspect is the "generations" aspect, you start with the grandmother then her daughter etc
the "uncomfortable" parts were lowkey disturbing ngl
75%
the story feels different yet similar? like you have seen something related to this but with a twist
the idea of the kid not growing up is not utilized well in most situations, like it could've been way better
the exploration of self awareness, sexuality, identity is amongst multiple themes running here, which is okay ig
my favorite aspect is the "generations" aspect, you start with the grandmother then her daughter etc
the "uncomfortable" parts were lowkey disturbing ngl
75%
Prada
7.0★ · 04/06/26
the story feels different yet similar? like you have seen something related to this but with a twist
the idea of the kid not growing up is not utilized well in most situations, like it could've been way better
the exploration of self awareness, sexuality, identity is amongst multiple themes running here, which is okay ig
my favorite aspect is the "generations" aspect, you start with the grandmother then her daughter etc
the "uncomfortable" parts were lowkey disturbing ngl
75%
the story feels different yet similar? like you have seen something related to this but with a twist
the idea of the kid not growing up is not utilized well in most situations, like it could've been way better
the exploration of self awareness, sexuality, identity is amongst multiple themes running here, which is okay ig
my favorite aspect is the "generations" aspect, you start with the grandmother then her daughter etc
the "uncomfortable" parts were lowkey disturbing ngl
