The Legend of Timm Thaler: or The Boy Who Sold His Laughter (2017) on Netflix
NR20171h 42mAdventureComedyDrama
In the 1920s in a German city, Timm Thaler laughs so infectiously that Baron Lefuet wants the laugh for himself. The Baron offers assured wins on every bet in exchange.
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- Netflix3.1/5
- IMDb6.1/10716 votes
- Rotten TomatoesNot available
Trailer
Plot summary
Timm Thaler and his father live on little money in a small alley in a German city during the 1920s. The household is poor, but Timm is a happy child. His laugh is contagious and disarming, and nobody who hears it can resist it. Baron Lefuet, a fierce man, decides that he must have that laughter for himself. He offers the boy a bargain: Timm hands over his laugh, and in return every bet he makes comes in a winner. Timm accepts the offer, and after that he keeps winning, while with each win something of his soul slips away.
Cast
- Heinz Rudolf Kunzeas Headmaster
Did you know?!Facts and trivia about The Legend of Timm Thaler: or The Boy Who Sold His Laughter (2017)
Can contain spoilers, watch the movie first.
- For the lead role of Timm Thaler, Constantin Film looked for a boy who had to bring along a twin brother, and issued a call for twins aged eleven to twelve.
- The miniature city built for Timm Thaler's fantasy world has stood since August 2016 as an attraction in the Calligari Halle of Filmpark Babelsberg, beside the studio grounds, as a homage to the film's set designers.
- Six women model makers spent about six weeks building the film's miniature city, taking care over the detail of the streets and trees so that the camera could crossfade from the model into the real scene.
- A 2015 minimum wage law raised extras' pay by about a third, and because Timm Thaler used a great many extras, Dresen said the budget rose; the film ended up costing around 8 million euros.
- The baron's castle scenes were shot in an old fencing hall near Berlin's Olympic grounds, while exteriors of Berlin's Kammergericht served as the backdrop for the Grand Hotel.
- The title role went to thirteen-year-old Arved Friese from Berlin; Dresen said the boy had to have a charming, infectious laugh even though he cannot use it for long stretches of the film.
